100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma: #55 Kenneth Mann By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: July 8, 2018

The Path to Norman

Kenneth Mann, a Texas product, had offers from programs including Oklahoma State, Houston, Kansas State, and others. The Oklahoma offer came in July, 2014; he chose the Sooners the same month. Then DL Coach Jerry Montgomery was a big reason for the commitment.

Career So Far

Mann took a redshirt season in 2015. 2016 saw Kenneth on the field in eight games, primarily on special teams. Going into 2017, TFB heard that it may the year for Mann to really progress in his game:

Was also told that Kenneth Mann “has really stepped his game up” this summer. Source added that he’s gotten better in the weight room and that he’s moving better overall. Mann isn’t necessarily the freakish twitchy athlete, so I don’t want to give anyone the impression that my source is saying Mann will be all-world. However, it sounds like he’s moving towards being a productive defensive lineman and that, as the source put it, “the light’s coming on…sometimes it takes guys two or three years to figure it out and I think he’s starting to figure it out”.

Mann ended up playing in 13 of the Sooners’ 14 games. He really came on well in the second half of the season, becoming a valuable interior pass rusher.

Current Profile

Position: DL

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 261

Year: Redshirt Junior

Highlights

Easily one of my personal favorite plays of the 2017 season.

2018 Season

This can be a year for Mann to be a leader on the defense. Mann has proven himself a determined force on the line and can definitely apply a lot of pressure. Guys like Ronnie Perkins, Isaiah Thomas, and Jalen Redmond will be vying for playing time at defensive end as well, so Kenneth certainly can’t get too comfortable in the spot. However, 2018 should be a time for Mann to establish himself as one of the premier pass rushers in the conference.