For this edition of Beyond the Wall, we sat down with Georgia Force quarterback Darnell Kennedy. Kennedy began his professional football career in Canada, playing with three different teams in the CFL. Kennedy then played one season in the af2 for the South Georgia Wildcats. He began the 2011 season as the backup quarterback in Georgia. Due to an injury by starting quarterback Brett Elliott, Kennedy finally got an opportunity to start in Week 20 against the Iowa Barnstormers. Kennedy earned Offensive Player of the Week and the Force defeated the Barnstormers, 63-59, and headed into the postseason to face the Cleveland Gladiators. Kennedy completed 18-of-35 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns and guided the Force to a first round victory. Kennedy and the Force face the Jacksonville Sharks in the American Conference Championship on NFL Network at 8 pm EST on Monday night.
EDITOR: In only two starts this season, you earned Offensive Player of the Week and a First Round playoff victory. How have you been able to pick up and adjust to the game so quickly?
DARNELL KENNEDY: I think the biggest key was that I was able to get some playing time early in the long season, as the backup. Coach put me in for a few games against Jacksonville and once against New Orleans. When Brett got hurt against Orlando, I was able to see some action. I had gotten some good playing time, but I didn’t play well in the beginning of the season. I was able to get that game experience under my belt. Going through practice and watching the games helped me correct my mistakes. I just try to go out there and play to the best of my ability.
ED: Have you gotten fully used to the arena style?
DK: It is a lot different than the outdoor game. You have to know where you are going with the football at the top of your drop. As soon as your foot hits the ground, you have to know where the football has to go or it’s going to be intercepted. In turn, you have to watch a little bit more film, so you can anticipate more during the game. We work on that a lot in practice. In the CFL, you had little time to find guys and wait for them to get open. In this League, you can’t do that. The ball needs to be out of your hands very quickly.
ED: What was last week’s playoff victory against Cleveland like?
DK: I think the win was great for us as a team and me as well. To go out and win my first playoff game ever in Arena Football and feel the pressure in a game on the road with a team like Cleveland, was awesome. We didn’t feel like we played the best of our ability, but we still came out with a win. Sometimes you have to win games like that. The game was very fun to be part of.
ED: You guys played against Jacksonville twice during the regular season and were defeated both times. What do you guys need to do to win this game?
DK: We really need to go out there and stay focused. We have to play our style of football. I think we can’t look too far into what they do. We can’t take punches. We have to be the team throwing the punches. We just need to play tough and keep fighting.
ED: How did you get involved with the AFL and the Georgia Force this season?
DK: I played in the af2 for a few seasons. I was trying to get into the AFL a few years back, but being a quarterback, they said you had to have experience to make it in the League. My time in the af2 was a great experience. I didn’t play last season. When this season rolled around, the Georgia Force moved to Atlanta which is where I live. Coach Cokinos called me and asked if I wanted to play.
ED: What was your time like in the CFL?
DK: I had a great time in Canada. The competition was great. The people and coaches involved with the teams were great and the game is fun. Playing in Canada was a very nice experience.
ED: Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, what other sports did you play besides football?
DK: The funny thing is that everybody that I went to High School with knew me as a basketball player. Not a football player. I played a lot of basketball and baseball growing up. I enjoyed those sports a lot.
ED: You then went to Alabama State University to play football. What was that experience like?
DK: That was the only scholarship I was offered coming out of High School. I always wanted to play football, but my team wasn’t that good in High School. I wasn’t heavily recruited but Alabama State gave me a scholarship. I was able to go play football at Alabama State, which was a great privilege. It was also cool because my parents were able to come to every game that we played.
ED: Do you have any other hobbies or skills?
DK: I enjoy playing sports like basketball and baseball. But if it is not sports related, I would say that I got into cooking.
ED: What do you like to do for fun in Atlanta?
DK: I love to go out to eat and go to the movies. I also enjoy going to sports bars, places like Dave and Busters and those type of places.
ED: What is your favorite movie?
DK: My favorite movie of all time would probably be The Green Mile.
ED: What sports teams did you root for growing up?
DK: I was mostly an Auburn fan because I knew the quarterback back then. My dad was a Pittsburgh fan. He loved the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.
ED: What is your favorite food?
DK: Sushi.
ED: Did you ever have a nickname growing up?
DK: My teammates used to call me Red.
ED: Mr. Kennedy, thanks for joining us today and good luck against Jacksonville!
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