Miami adds size to D-line room, lands four-star Anthony Kennedy Jr.

Sebastian Font

Jun 27, 2025 2 min read

The Miami Hurricanes have continued their run of 2026 commits Friday evening with the announcement of defensive tackle Anthony Kennedy Jr. from Little Rock, Arkansas.

A four-star d-lineman at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Kennedy provides elite size at the line of scrimmage, a body that can consistently collapse the pocket.

Kennedy’s movement for his size really stands out, he carries his weight well as he bullies offensive linemen at the point of attack.

He racked up six sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games for his Little Rock Central team, getting to the quarterback at will as he made a living in the backfield.

Formerly a Missouri commit, Kennedy decommitted during May and re-opened his recruitment. A visit to his high school followed from Coach Jason Taylor, where the staff truly fell in love with his size and upside for the class.

His first and only visit to Miami was his official (May 30th- June 1st), which made his recruitment difficult to read, but traction continued to build throughout.

Miami beat out the likes of Missouri and SMU for the Little Rock product. A big win at one of the most crucial positions for the Hurricanes to take that next step.

Kennedy becomes the nineteenth player in Miami’s 2026 class, joining a defensive line room of Tyson Bacon and Asharri Charles.

The Hurricanes have now landed six commits in the past week, with five of them being four-star prospects. Miami will keep looking to add on the defensive line with key commitments coming soon from local four-star James Johnson, five-star Bryce Perry-Wright, and four-star Nolan Wilson. This is big boy recruiting with the best in the nation, gotta find a way to close out with a bang.

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Comments (224)

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Calinative

Jun 27, 2025

@AtlAtty answering your question from https://www.canesinsight.com/thread...e-rock-ar-visiting.198835/page-7#post-7757486

That top was 2026s eligibility chart and we all expect Bain to declare for the draft after this season.

The bottom one would be 2027

Cortez55403

Jun 28, 2025

Any relation to CortezKennedy who was also from Arkansas?

CaneTheGaytors

Jun 28, 2025

@Paranos waiting for your spoiler gifs with some big girl loving, brother.

Hstokes1447

Jun 28, 2025

Hstokes1447

Jun 28, 2025

Cane30 said:
I need to do some digging on his younger brother QB class of 29 they are calling a phenom. He already has Auburn, Missouri and Arkansas offers.

He has a Miami offer also

Hstokes1447

Jun 28, 2025

Memnon said:
Little Rock Mf'in Arkansas!!!!

All up in the Razorbacks front yard yelling Woo Pig Sooie!

THAT'S HOW YOU RECRUIT!!!

View attachment 329034

P
Paranos

Jun 28, 2025

Calinative said:
Him and Bacon is a good start to the DT class.

WE NEED MORRRREEE!

In the 2026 dline class!

Go Canes

Hstokes1447

Jun 28, 2025

Hurricane23 said:
I like his body and size (pause), but can he move.

Yes, and very well at that.

Hstokes1447

Jun 28, 2025

sstcane said:
Hopefully we can develop him like Jordan Davis at Georgia who was a 3* that was 6'6 330. Having a space eating NT in a Tite front makes it so much tougher to run against

Thanks for know what you’re talking about.

G
Golsen82

Jun 28, 2025

Hes huge! How the **** Mario pull a DT outta SEC territory?

G
Golsen82

Jun 28, 2025

cway313 said:
If we are 4-0, I will do the honors.

0-4 calls for his immediate termination

FrancisSawyer

Jun 28, 2025

I love the pickup! I realize that Kennedy isn't going to be Vince Wilfork but he doesn't need to be! Now Mario can go all out on trying to get/flip James Johnson or Lamar Brown. Get one of those two and another 4i/5 tech like Nolan Wilson and we will be on our way.

BeastMode

Jun 28, 2025

There are so many good players in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Happy to see Mario and Miami getting into the Deep South for some recruiting wins.

Gables Cane

Jun 28, 2025

NicKane

Jun 28, 2025

Sebastian Font said:
The Miami Hurricanes have continued their run of 2026 commits Friday evening with the announcement of defensive tackle Anthony Kennedy Jr. from Little Rock, Arkansas.

A four-star d-lineman at 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Kennedy provides elite size at the line of scrimmage, a body that can consistently collapse the pocket.

Kennedy’s movement for his size really stands out, he carries his weight well as he bullies offensive linemen at the point of attack.

He racked up six sacks and two forced fumbles in nine games for his Little Rock Central team, getting to the quarterback at will as he made a living in the backfield.

Formerly a Missouri commit, Kennedy decommitted during May and re-opened his recruitment. A visit to his high school followed from Coach Jason Taylor, where the staff truly fell in love with his size and upside for the class.

His first and only visit to Miami was his official (May 30th- June 1st), which made his recruitment difficult to read, but traction continued to build throughout.

Miami beat out the likes of Missouri and SMU for the Little Rock product. A big win at one of the most crucial positions for the Hurricanes to take that next step.

Kennedy becomes the nineteenth player in Miami’s 2026 class, joining a defensive line room of Tyson Bacon and Asharri Charles.

The Hurricanes have now landed six commits in the past week, with five of them being four-star prospects. Miami will keep looking to add on the defensive line with key commitments coming soon from local four-star James Johnson, five-star Bryce Perry-Wright, and four-star Nolan Wilson. This is big boy recruiting with the best in the nation, gotta find a way to close out with a bang.

Huge get right here! This kid has exactly what our defensive line room has been lacking and that’s true nose tackle collapse the pocket size! And while our room sports five defensive tackles that are all over 300 pounds, they’re on the lower end of that, but this kid is on the far upper end of that and sports movement skills that are off the charts. This is a big get and I am so happy we got this kid. And while I would like to get the Northwestern kid too, that kid does not have the same size as this guy does and that is something you just can’t coach.

NicKane

Jun 28, 2025

Phydeaux said:
Another multi sport kid

That’s called a @DMoney special right there! Lol

Memnon

Jun 28, 2025

My comp for Anthony Kennedy:

Jayson Jones - Auburn/Oregon

C
CANE1775

Jun 28, 2025

Memnon said:
My comp for Anthony Kennedy:

Jayson Jones - Auburn/Oregon

Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of Jones.

canecrazy23

Jun 28, 2025

Cane30 said:
I need to do some digging on his younger brother QB class of 29 they are calling a phenom. He already has Auburn, Missouri and Arkansas offers.

Wait did that kid just throw that last ball left handed and look just as good as hid right?

WestGA'Cane

Jun 28, 2025

Welcome!

*Absolutely love Mario's recruiting. If not blue chip, blue chip traits exist in the vast majority. This kid's quickness for someone that size really stands out. Well done.