He was the best I ever saw in person on otherwise at UCLA. Followed by Don Rogers. Kenny hailed from Newport News, VA, as I recall. His senior year was not so much fun because the other team always went away from him and never threw in his direction. He made many awesome hits as well.

In his senior year UCLA played Oregon State in Japan at the end of the season. During the game OSU did throw in his direction (all of us were shocked) and all he did was intercept the pass and run in back for a touchdown. Later OSU threw his way again and he intercepted that pass as well.

Later with the Seahawks he contracted a liver disease which disabled him, but he did play for several seasons and was all-pro.

Bill

Kenny Easley. Wow, what a player. My dad had season tickets and played in the Alumni Band. I remember going to games as a kid (loved the Saturday night games) at the Coliseum and he was the first UCLA player I ever identified with as a kid. You want to talk about a hitter? He was every bit as good, if not better, than Ronnie Lott. If he hadn’t gotten sick, he would have proved it too. Our Bruins have had many a great safety, but none better than Kenny Easley. He set the mold for all future safeties at UCLA. They would all be compared to him. My favorite Bruin of all-time is Don Rogers. He was ferocious as safety. He delivered hits on people that were so hard people would say…….“he is the next Kenny Easley”. As much as I loved Don Rogers, and as much as I thought he was an incredible safety (which he was)…….he wasn’t Kenny Easley. Point blank, Kenny Easley is the best defensive player (followed closely by Jerry Robinson) EVER to wear the blue and gold! He was that good. He hit people HARD, but he played with such a fluidity and grace to his game. Had it not been for his kidney problems, he may just have turned into the best safety to ever play the game……..not just the best to play for the Bruins.

I first attended UCLA games at the Coliseum (my family still has four season tix), and through the Toledo and Dorrell eras I think eveyone forgot that UCLA used to have among the best defenses in the country in college football. For me, that defense was personified by Kenny Easley, one heck of a player, and a hitter. The kid was fearless, but also strong fundamentally. He tackled.He’s one of those players whose name sticks with me, as does Freeman McNeil, Tom Ramsey, Trey Brown’s father (Theotis), etc.