Penn State has received a preferred walk-on commitment from David Kency Jr. (2023), a running back from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana.
Louisiana Bred….Penn State bound! WeAre!!! pic.twitter.com/uQSoQme7bb
— David “DK” Kency, Jr (@MrFlash_8) January 23, 2023
Kency was one of many high school players who visited Penn State this past weekend.
Kency was a two-time first-team All-District performer in both football and soccer.
He also ran the 100 and 200-meter dash.
At 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Kency is fast, and he proved that throughout his senior season. He ended the year with 1,655 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also had a 95-yard touchdown run that was the second-longest in Archbishop Shaw’s history.
Bob Lundeberg of Scorebook Live listed Kency among Louisiana’s best prep tailbacks before the season, writing that he was “one of the fastest tailbacks in the state.”
”Kency is a one-cut-and-go runner who can out-sprint anyone to the end zone,” he wrote. “A first-team all-district selection as a junior, Kency could pull in several Division I offers with a big senior season.”
As a walk-on, Kency getting a place amongst Penn State’s regulars will be an uphill battle, and the school’s current crop of running backs won’t make things any easier. Nick Singleton (1,061 yards, 6.8 yards per carry, 12 TD) and Kaytron Allen 867 yards, 5.2 YPC, 10 TD), will be back for their second years, and Penn State also has four-star London Montgomery (Scranton) and three-star Cam Wallace (Vernon, Georgia) signed to the 2023 class. Kency’s most likely contribution, at least right away, would be on special teams. The loss of Parker Washington to the NFL Draft will create opportunities for new players to step up at punt returner. Kency’s speed could be quite useful in that department.
His speed could also eventually help lead him to a role in Penn State’s offense.
