University of Nevada Athletics

Football (1981-83)
Derek Kennard was an Associated Press All-America selection as an offensive tackle 1983. Originally from Stockton, Calif., Kennard came to Nevada in 1980 and played four years for Coach Chris Ault. He was second-team All-Big Sky as a sophomore and first-team all-conference as a junior and senior. He captained the 1983 Wolf Pack team, which won the Big Sky Conference championship and made it to the semifinals of the 1-AA championships, losing to eventual champion Southern Illinois. After Nevada, he spent two years with the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League before embarking on a 10-year career in the National Football League, starting at guard and tackle with the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals, the New Orleans Saints, and the Dallas Cowboys. He won a Super Bowl Championship ring with the Cowboys to cap his career. In 1988 he was an alternate selection to the Pro Bowl.