Ronald Kent Jr.

American football player (born 1999)

Ronald Kent Jr.
Career information
No. 21 BC Lions
Kent with the BC Lions in 2024
Born:	(1999-11-07) November 7, 1999 (age 24) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Status	Active
CFL status	American
Position(s)	DB
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	176 lb (80 kg)
College	Western Carolina (2018–2021) Central Michigan (2022)
High school	Harrisburg (PA)
Career history
As player
2024–present	BC Lions

Career highlights and awards
2× Second-team All-SoCon (2020–2021)
Career stats
Playing stats at CFL.ca

Ronald Lewis Kent Jr.^[1] (born November 7, 1999) is an American professional football defensive back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Western Carolina and Central Michigan.

Early life

Kent played high school football at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.^[2] He recorded 22 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns his junior year and 21 receptions for 385 yards and one touchdown his senior year. He totaled 27 tackles and five interceptions on defense his senior year, earning first-team PennLive defensive all-star honors. Kent also wrestled in high school.^[1]

College career

Kent played college football for the Western Carolina Catamounts from 2018 to 2021. He played in all 11 games, starting seven, in 2018, accumulating 45 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and one forced fumble.^[1] His pass breakup total lead the team that year. Kent also garnered Southern Conference (SoCon) All-Freshman recognition, and was named a Freshman All-American by both Phil Steele and HERO Sports. He started 11 games in 2019, and missed the final game of the season. He recorded 32 tackles, seven pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.^[1] Kent started all nine games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, totaling 47 tackles, one interception, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble, earning second-team All-SoCon honors from the coaches. He started all 11 games in 2021, totaling 38 tackles, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was named second-team All-SoCon by the SoCon Sports Media Association and third-team All-SoCon by Phil Steele.^[1]

Kent transferred to play for the Central Michigan Chippewas in 2022.^[3] He appeared in all 12 games, starting 10, accumulating 56 tackles, one sack, and 10 pass breakups.^[4]

Professional career

Kent went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft.^[5]

Kent signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on January 24, 2024.^[6]^[7]^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Ronald Kent Jr". catamountsports.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ Linder, Brian (December 2, 2022). "Former Harrisburg High, Central Michigan standout Ronald Kent Jr. ready to chase his NFL dream". pennlive.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ Linder, Brian (January 24, 2022). "Family Reunion: Ronald Kent Jr. commits to Central Michigan, reuniting with his brother, Donte, for final season". pennlive.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ "Ronald Kent Jr". cmuchippewas.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ "Ronald Kent Jr". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ "British Columbia Lions Transactions". footballdb.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ "B.C. Lions sign Central Michigan standout DB Ronald Kent Jr". 3downnation.com. January 24, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
^ Smith, TJ (January 12, 2024). "Former Harrisburg High football star signs with Canadian Football League's BC Lions". pennlive.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.