THE KENNEDY FILE

Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
College: SE Louisiana, 2012
X/Twitter: @CoachCKennedy
Birthday: July 1, 1989

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2024-present:
Mississippi State, Offensive Line
2021-23:
Arkansas, Offensive Line
2020:
Southern Miss, Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
2019-20:
Tulane, Offensive Line
2018:
Georgia, Graduate Assistant
2016-17:
West Georgia, Offensive Line
2015:
UNC Pembroke, Offensive Line
2014:
West Georgia, Offensive Line
2012-13:
West Alabama, Graduate Assistant/Offensive Line

BOWL GAMES COACHED

2022: Liberty Bowl (Arkansas)
2022: Outback Bowl (Arkansas)
2020: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Tulane)
2020: Armed Forces Bowl (Tulane)
2019: Sugar Bowl (Georgia)
2017: Division II Playoffs (West Georgia)
2014: Division II Playoffs (West Georgia)
2012: Division II Playoffs (West Alabama)

Cody Kennedy was named Mississippi State's offensive line coach on December 1, 2023.

A 2021 Broyles Award semifinalist, Kennedy joined head coach Jeff Lebby's staff after spending three seasons (2021-23) at Arkansas as offensive line coach.

With Kennedy's offensive line paving the way for 6,128 yards, the Razorbacks' offense in 2022 was one of the best in school history. His unit cleared paths for Arkansas to average 236.7 yards per game on the ground and cross the 3,000-yard mark for just the 10th time in the program's history. The offense produced a pair of 600-yard games in wins over BYU and Kansas and set the school record for first downs in a single season with 311.

Kennedy's 2022 offensive line was led by center Ricky Stromberg, who earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy awarded annually to the SEC's top offensive lineman. Stromberg was named an honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Focus while earning First-Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press, the league's coaches, PFF and USA Today. He was selected in the third round of the NFL Draft by Washington. Under Kennedy's guidance, offensive tackle Dalton Wagner earned First-Team All-SEC from PFF and second-team honors from the Associated Press.

Kennedy made an instant impact during his first season in Fayetteville in 2021. His unit helped turn the Razorbacks into one of the most physical teams in the SEC. Arkansas led the conference and ranked second nationally in rushing with 227.8 yards per game. Four players eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark, a feat that Arkansas had not accomplished since 1975.

In 2021, Stromberg received Second-Team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and third-team accolades from Phil Steele and PFF. Beaux Limmer was named to PFF's All-SEC Second Team and Phil Steel's fourth team. Following the season Myron Cunningham participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFLPA Bowl. Kennedy's offensive line as a whole was also noticed as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the nation's best offensive line.

Prior to Arkansas, he had a brief stint as Southern Miss' offensive line coach and run game coordinator during the 2020 offseason. He had joined Southern Miss head coach Will Hall in Hattiesburg after spending the 2019 and 2020 seasons working with Hall, then Tulane's offensive coordinator, as the Green Wave's offensive line coach. Kennedy helped Tulane establish one of the nation's elite rushing offenses, ranking inside the FBS top 20 in his two seasons in New Orleans.

In 2020, Tulane scored 32 touchdowns on the ground, tied for seventh-most in the nation, and ranked 17th nationally averaging 217.1 rushing yards per game, leading the American Athletic Conference in rushing for the second straight year. Kennedy helped guide Tulane to its second bowl berth in as many seasons, mentoring offensive linemen Corey Dublin and Sincere Haynesworth to All-AAC Second Team recognition.

The Green Wave produced a school-record 3,162 rushing yards in Kennedy's first season in 2019, ranking second in program history in rushing yards per game (243.2), rushing touchdowns (33) and rushing first downs (166). Nationally, Tulane placed 11th in rushing yards per game and 15th in total rushing yards. Dublin was named All-AAC Honorable Mention at the year's end.

Kennedy spent the 2018 season as a graduate assistant at Georgia, working under Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman who was the offensive line coach at UGA. The Bulldogs ran for 238.8 yards per game, the best mark in the SEC and 16th-best nationally, earning a top-10 ranking in the final AP Poll.

From 2016-17, Kennedy served his second stint at West Georgia as offensive line coach. The Wolves ranked inside Division II's top 50 in total offense (418.2), rushing offense (182.8 ypg) and first down offense (283) and registered a 9-4 record. Four of his offensive linemen earned All-Gulf South Conference honors while center Harley Vaughan and tackle Austin Kastl were both named All-Americans.

In 2016, Kennedy worked as Hall's offensive line coach and helped West Georgia to a 7-4 record. Before that season, Kennedy was the offensive line coach at UNC Pembroke and assisted the Braves to a 6-4 record, a four-win improvement from the previous season.

As West Georgia's offensive line coach in 2014, the Wolves went 12-4 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. Kennedy oversaw a unit that paved the way for a league-leading 226.6 rushing yards per game (20th nationally) and 34 touchdowns (T-13th nationally).

Kennedy spent 2012-13 as a graduate assistant at West Alabama, where he helped lead the Tigers to a pair of Gulf South Conference titles, a postseason appearance, and a 17-7 record. The Tigers led the league (18th nationally) in rushing offense (225.1 yards/game) in 2012 and ranked 20th nationally in rushing offense in 2013.

Kennedy played offensive line at Southeastern Louisiana from 2008-11 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He later earned a master's degree in teaching physical education from West Alabama in 2014.