LSU Star Wideout Eddie Kennison Named No. 8 on Independence Bowl 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

SHREVEPORT, La. (Oct. 19, 2026) – LSU’s Eddie Kennison played in one of the most memorable Independence Bowls and helped create a moment that lives in Independence Bowl lore, and he is the No. 8 player on the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Kennison starred on the LSU team that took on a young Nick Saban and his Michigan State Spartans in the 1995 Independence Bowl, and he stuffed the stat sheet in that game. He caught five passes for 124 yards and one touchdown, and he ranks sixth in Independence Bowl history for individual all-purpose yards in a game (249).

The Lake Charles native delivered a second-quarter memory that Independence Bowl fans will remember for a lifetime. After Michigan State scored early in the second frame to make it 13-7 Spartans, the game flipped twice in a matter of seconds. After the Spartans’ touchdown, Kennison took it upon himself to propel the Tigers back into the lead with a 92-yard kickoff-return touchdown, and on the ensuing kickoff, 50th Anniversary All-Time Team player No. 21 Derrick Mason ran it back 100 yards to flip the game back in Michigan State’s favor. LSU won 45-26 on the backs of Kennison, Kevin Faulk and the offense.

In three years with LSU, Kennison racked up 1,554 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and 1995 was his best season with the Bayou Bengals. He caught 45 passes for 739 yards and two touchdowns, earning second-team All-SEC recognition.

In Baton Rouge, Kennison was also a six-time All-American sprinter on the LSU track and field team. He starred on the 4×100-meter relay team that won the 1994 NCAA Outdoor Championship. 

After running a blazing 40-yard dash at his LSU Pro Day, Kennison was selected 18th overall in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. The first-rounder made an immediate impact in 1996, earning a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. He finished second among rookies in receiving yards (924) and receptions (54), outpacing number-one overall pick Keyshawn Johnson.

Kennison remained productive for most of his 13-year NFL career, but he didn’t surpass his rookie numbers until 2004 with the Kansas City Chiefs, when he broke 1,000 yards for the first time. He had only two 1,000-plus-yard seasons, in 2004 and 2005, when he caught 1,086 and 1,102 yards, respectively. Overall, Kennison caught 548 passes for 8,345 yards and 42 touchdowns over his 13 years in the NFL.

Kennison was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 7, will be released on Monday, October 26. Players will be unveiled individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.

Previously Announced Members of the All-Time Team

The first 42 players on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, as previously announced, include:

• No. 9 – Fernando Mendoza (QB – California, 2023)
• No. 10 – Takeo Spikes (LB – Auburn, 1996)
• No. 11 – Brett Favre (QB – Southern Miss, 1988)
• No. 12 – Roy Williams (S – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 13 – Josh Heupel (QB – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 14 – Art Monk (WR – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 15 – Von Miller (OLB – Texas A&M, 2009)
• No. 16 – Wesley Walls (DE/TE – Ole Miss, 1986)
• No. 17 – Joe Morris (RB – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 18 – Ray Childress (DT – Texas A&M, 1981)
• No. 19 – Sidney Rice (WR – South Carolina, 2005)
• No. 20 – Brad Smith (QB – Missouri, 2003 & 2005)
• No. 21 – Derrick Mason (WR – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 22 – Garrison Hearst (RB – Georgia, 1991)
• No. 23 – Jacob Rodriguez (LB – Texas Tech, 2023)
• No. 24 – Tim Krumrie (NG – Wisconsin, 1982)
• No. 25 – Muhsin Muhammad (WR – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 26 – Ja’Mar Toombs (RB – Texas A&M, 2000)
• No. 27 – Otis Wilson (LB – Louisville, 1977)
• No. 28 – A.J. Green (WR – Georgia, 2009)
• No. 29 – Rocky Calmus (LB – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 30 – Flozell Adams (OT – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 31 – Willie Blade (DT – Mississippi State, 2000)
• No. 32 – Scott Thomas (S – Air Force, 1983 & 1984)
• No. 33 – Chad Hennings (DT – Air Force, 1984)
• No. 34 – Dameyune Craig (QB – Auburn, 1996)
• No. 35 – Geno Atkins (DT – Georgia, 2009)
• No. 36 – Rondell Mealey (RB – LSU, 1997)
• No. 37 – Rolando McClain (LB – Alabama, 2007)
• No. 38 – Weldon Brown (CB – Louisiana Tech, 2008)
• No. 39 – Andre Smith (OT – Alabama, 2006 & 2007)
• No. 40 – Tiki Barber (RB – Virginia, 1994)
• No. 41 – Puka Nacua (WR – BYU, 2021)
• No. 42 – Gary Kubiak (QB – Texas A&M, 1981)
• No. 43 – Seneca Wallace (QB – Iowa State, 2001)
• No. 44 – Todd McClure (C – LSU, 1995 & 1997)
• No. 45 – Gary Anderson (K – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 46 – Booger McFarland (LB – LSU, 1995 & 1997)
• No. 47 – Tremaine Edmunds (LB – Virginia Tech, 2015)
• No. 48 – Bill Musgrave (QB – Oregon, 1989)
• No. 49 – Larry Anderson (DB – Louisiana Tech, 1977)
• No. 50 – Lorenza Baker (LB – Louisiana Tech, 1990)
• Selection & Ranking Criteria and Committee

An experienced, diverse committee compiled the list of the top 50 all-time players, including local media members and Independence Bowl representatives. Players were nominated and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• 40 percent weight based on their Independence Bowl performance(s)
• 30 percent based on their college career and accolades
• 30 percent based on their pro career and accomplishments

To read more about the nomination and selection process, release schedule and selection and ranking committee, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/news.

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most historic bowl game, with the 50th anniversary game set for Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN. Radiance Technologies is the bowl’s title sponsor through at least the 2027 Bowl Season. 

The Independence Bowl Foundation is a prominent presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.