2015 Football Roster
Jordan Italiano
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Canfield, Ohio
- High School:
- Canfield
Career
• Only three-time Academic All-American in program history
• 257 tackles, five interceptions, five forced fumbles
2015
• One of 12 finalists for Campbell Trophy
• Named to CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team
• Named Smartest Player in College Football by NFL.com
• Kent State's male recipient of the MAC Medal of Excellence Award
• Named MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete
• Earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors
• Named to Academic All-MAC Team for the third year in a row
• Earned MAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Week after making 11 tackles against Bowling Green
• One of 80 players named to Wuerffel Trophy Award Watch List
• Nominee for All-State AFCA Good Works Team
• Received the Leo Strang Award, given to the upperclassman with the highest cumulative grade point average. The two-time Academic All-American carries a 3.98 GPA
• Named PNC Student-Athlete Achiever
• Named to both Athlon and Phil Steele's Preseason All-MAC Second Team
• Made fifth career interception in the first quarter against Marshall
2014 Junior Season
• Named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team, becoming Kent State's second two-time Academic All-American
• Earned MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete award
• Named to Academic All-MAC Team
• Made three interceptions and 3.5 tackles for loss
• Second on team with 96 tackles, including 48 solo stops
• Team captain
• Third interception of the season versus Akron, gave him a hand in six turnovers on the year
• Named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week after recording career-high 16 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble at Bowling Green
• Named to Capital One Academic All-District 5 Team
• Named MAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Week
• Ranked eighth in MAC and 56th in the nation in tackles per game (8.7)
• Fourth quarter interception against Northern Illinois gave him a hand in a turnover for three straight games (RF, FF, Int). It was the Huskies first interception of the season.
• Started all 11 games
• Named 14 for '14 Smartest Players in College Football by NFL.com
2013 Sophomore Season
• Named to Academic All-America Second Team
• Led team with 41 solo tackles
• Finished third on team with 76 total tackles
• Named to Academic All-MAC Team
• Forced two fumbles and recorded 2.0 tackles for loss
• Recorded a career high 13 tackles against Northern Illinois
• Earned the Gerald and Victoria Read Award at the spring game, which is given to the player who best exemplifies hard work and dedication beyond the call of duty
2012 Freshman Season
• Made his first career start and had his first career interception in the 41-24 victory Oct. 20 over Western Michigan
• Recorded three tackles in his first ever college football game during Kent State's 41-21 victory Aug. 30 over Towson
Prior to Kent State
• Started at quarterback and defensive back for the Cardinals
• Led defense with 69 tackles and three interceptions in 2011
• Threw for 659 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing 149 times for 1,038 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior
• Recorded 81 tackles, eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery in 2010
• First team all-conference, first team All-Northeast Ohio, second team All-Ohio and Big 33 selection in 2011 as Canfield’s Offensive MVP
• Voted as team’s Offensive MVP and Defensive Back of the Year
• Lettered three years in football and two years in basketball for the Cardinals
Personal
• Majoring in chemistry/pre-med
• Son of Carolyn and John Italiano
