Football | 12/17/2025 1:58:00 PM
GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T junior returner Elijah Kennedy earned 2025 FCS second-team All-American honors from Stats Perform on Wednesday, adding to a pretty impressive postseason haul for special teams football players at A&T.
Kennedy earned second-team honors as a punt returner, an area where he excelled during the 2025 season. He also did well as a kickoff returner for A&T. As a result, Kennedy led the nation in combined kick return yards (979). In addition, he ranked second in the country in punt returns for touchdowns (2) and in yards per punt return (16.1).
He played an instrumental part in the Aggies securing their second win of the season when, in the fourth quarter, he returned a punt 96 yards for a touchdown, followed by an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, helping A&T defeat Campbell 28-24 at Truist Stadium on October 25. Kennedy's fourth-quarter heroics were historic.
Kennedy became the first player in program history to return a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns in the same game, and he tied the program record for longest punt return for a touchdown.
"I like doing both," Kennedy said about whether he prefers kickoff return or punt return during an A&T Football Coach's Show this past season. "I just love having the opportunity to be on the field, coming from where I came from. I was a walk-on with no D-1 offers, so I want the opportunity to continue to grind and get better at my craft."
Kennedy and special teams player Andrew Brown have amassed most of the awards during the postseason. Following the season, the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) named Kennedy a first-team all-conference selection as a punt returner. He also earned BOXTOROW HBCU All-American honors.
BOXTOROW named Brown its co-Special Teams Player of the Year, along with handing HBCU All-American honors. Brown also secured second-team All-CAA honors and was one of 10 players who were selected as finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award, awarded to the best non-FBS placekicker in the nation.
Kennedy is expected back next season when the Aggies start the season against the Morgan State Bears on Saturday, August 29, from Truist Stadium.
