Northwest Mississippi Community College Athletics

A perennial All-Pro since joining the National Football League in 1990, Cortez Kennedy is recognized as one of Northwest Mississippi Community College's most famous alumni. He was taken by the Seattle Seahawks as the third overall choice in the 1990 NFL Draft. Since then Kennedy has become one of the most dominant defensive linemen in the NFL.

A native of Wilson, Ark., Kennedy made his sixth consecutive appearance in the Pro Bowl in Honolulu in 1997. In 1992, only his second year in the league, Kennedy was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year while playing for a Seahawks team that posted a record of 2-14.

As an athlete at Northwest, Kennedy led the Rangers to a combined record of 20-5-1 and back-to-back bowl berths in 1986 and 1987. He was also chosen All-State and All-Region after both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

After his stint at Northwest, Kennedy signed with the University of Miami (Fla.) and led the Hurricanes to a national championship in 1989. He was named first team All-American by The Sporting News and second team by The Associated Press. In the spring of 1996, Kennedy became a member  of the National Junior College Athletic Association's Football Hall of Fame.

Kennedy was inducted into the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame in April 2008 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. He is also a member of the Seahawks' Ring of Honor and is a team ambassador, representing the franchise in community outreach appearances and corporate partnership support.