"Such was the dominance of a player who would be called The Enforcer for the way he inflicted his will on college and NFL opponents. Easley finished that first season with nine interceptions and 93 tackles, school records for a true freshman, and was just getting started on the way to becoming the first player in Pac-10 history to be selected for the conference's first team all four seasons."
""We are deeply saddened by the passing of Seahawks legend Kenny Easley," the team said in a statement. "Kenny embodied what it meant to be a Seahawk through his leadership, toughness, intensity and fearlessness. His intimidating nature and athletic grace made him one of the best players of all-time." Much of that resolve was forged thanks to a childhood game that Easley called dynamite pigskin. A pack of kids would gather on the athletic fields in Easley's hometown of Chesapeake, Va., and a football would be tossed into the air."
On a flight to Houston to play his first college game, he was told he would split time at free safety with a veteran UCLA teammate. He replaced the starter after two quarters and never relinquished the position. He finished his freshman season with nine interceptions and 93 tackles, school records, and became the first player in Pac-10 history named to the conference's first team all four seasons. He spent seven NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, earned five Pro Bowl selections, and retired prematurely in 1987 due to chronic kidney issues. He died at age 66.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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