2011-12 Football
Sam Kirkland
- Class:
- Fifth Year
- Hometown:
- Chesapeake, Va.
- High School:
- Deep Creek
Career
• Made 113 catches, tied for sixth among Kent State career leaders
• Totaled 1,130 yards receiving and 1,856 all-purpose yards
2011 Senior Season
• Named to Phil Steele's Preseason All-MAC Fourth Team
• Led both sides with six catches for 51 yards against Louisiana
• Led both sides with 59 yards receiving on four catches against Miami
• Team captain (voted by players and coaches)
2010 Junior Season
• Earned All-MAC Third Team honors
• Recorded career-bests of 56 catches and 599 receiving yards
• Led Kent State in all-purpose yards with 885
• Caught seven passes and had a 54-yard run at Western Michigan, the team's longest of the season
• Blocked a first-half punt against Temple and recovered a second-half blocked punt for a touchdown against the Owls
• Posted career-highs of nine catches and 126 receiving yards against Murray State
• Recorded second straight 100-yard receiving game at home against Akron (5 catches, 109 yards)
• Threw his first career touchdown pass against Ball State Oct. 30
• Totaled 193 yards in kick returns
2009 Sophomore Season
• Received the Don Nottingham Cup at the conclusion of spring practice as the most improved offensive player
• Had 18 catches for 154 yards in 11 games
• Earned a pair of starts
• Scored on an 86-yard reverse on Kent State first offensive play against Bowling Green Oct. 10
• Had a career-day Oct. 24 at Ohio, hauling in five catches for 80 yards, including a career-long 42-yard reception
• Had six games with multiple receptions
2008 Redshirt Freshman Season
• Began season listed as a defensive back but found way onto the field as a wide receiver
• Finished year with seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns
• Also saw action as a kick returner, bringing back six kicks for 117 yards
• Made first career start at wide receiver on Nov. 12 against Temple and caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown
• Hauled in an 18-yard touchdown at Bowling Green Nov. 1 for his first career score
2007 Freshman Season
• Redshirted
Prior to Kent State
• Earned all-district honors twice and all-region honors once at Deep Creek High School
• Collected seven interceptions and 67 total tackles in his career
• Accounted for nearly 3,700 yards and 38 total touchdowns on offense as a quarterback
• Also lettered in track and field
• Coached by David Cox
Personal
• Born Nov. 8, 1988
• Parents are Samuel and Jacqueline Kirkland
• Has a younger sister, Shaterra
• Majoring in justice studies.
