Kennard Backman - 86
	Class: Junior Hometown: Austell, Ga. High School: Whitefield Academy Height / Weight: 6-3 / 258 Position: Tight End Experience: 2L

2011: Made immediate impact in his first season at UAB as he played in all 12 contests and started eight of those ... first start was in game two in Conference USA opener vs. Tulane ... registered six catches during season for 43 yards ... notched a season-best two receptions for 20 yards in victory at Memphis ... season-long catch was 18 yards against Memphis ... also excelled in classroom as he was named to Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.

High School: Attended Whitefield Academy in metro-Atlanta area ... a versatile athlete who was standout on both sides of the ball ... two-time all-state performer ... earned second-team honors by Associated Press as a senior tight end ... also listed honorable mention all-state as a defensive lineman by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... finished the 2010 season with 39 receptions for 494 yards and five touchdowns on offense ... on the defensive side, Backman had 73 tackles with seven sacks ... ranked as the No. 36 prospect in Georgia by Scout.com ... was nominated for U.S. Army All-American Team, one of 21 nominees from state of Georgia ... was a first-team all-state selection as a junior in 2009, earning accolades at tight end by AP and as a defensive lineman by the Journal-Constitution ... also earned all-state honors as a junior by Georgia Sports Writers Association ... registered 33 receptions for 487 yards with three touchdowns as a junior ... coached by Jimmy Fields at Whitefield Academy.

Personal: Born Feb. 26, 1993 at Atlanta, Ga. ... son of Krashenda Backman and Charles Okoli ... major is business.