Kenny Wheaton
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Tyron "Kenny" Wheaton (born March 8, 1975 in Phoenix, Arizona
) is a defensive back
who most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League
.
in Tempe, Arizona
. Kenny was part of a strong football family in Tempe.
Kenny Wheaton's brother Derrek Wheaton also attended McClintock High School
playing varsity football, basketball, and baseball. Derrek went on to play college football at Phoenix College
and received a football scholarship to attend the University of Oregon
. Derrek was killed on his way home from the Phoenix College football banquet, he was the random victim of a drive by shooting
. The Arizona Junior High School Basketball Tournament honors Derrek's memory with the Derrek Wheaton MVP Award.
Wheaton's cousin Andre Bailey also played football at McClintock High School
and went on to play college football at Mesa Community College
before attending the University of Texas El Paso.
Kenny also has two younger cousins that are currently playing college football. Marquese Wheaton who plays for University of Southern Mississippi and Markus Wheaton who plays for Oregon State University
.
at the University of Oregon
where, in his freshman season in 1994
, he made arguably the most famous play in Ducks
history known as "The Pick." As time was winding down and the University of Washington
was driving down to the Oregon nine-yard line, Wheaton intercepted a Damon Huard
pass and ran it back for a touchdown to save the game.
, Wheaton was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
of the NFL
in the 1997 NFL Draft
. In three seasons with the Cowboys, Wheaton predominantly played on special teams.
, Wheaton joined the Detroit Fury
of the Arena Football League playing nine games, but starting
in only six of them. He was later traded to the Colorado Crush
during the offseason, only to be cut by the team in training camp.
, Wheaton signed with the Toronto Argonauts
and was their starting defensive half back.
In 2004
, during a playoff game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, Wheaton intercepted a pass into the end zone
. In a play reminiscent of "The Pick" in his famous college game, Wheaton returned the interception from deep in his own end for a touchdown setting a CFL post-season record for the longest ever interception return for a touchdown (116 yards). Wheaton went on to help his team win the 92nd Grey Cup
championship with the Argonauts that season.
Wheaton was named to CFL East Division All-Star team each year between 2005-2008.
On January 9, 2009, Wheaton was released by the Argonauts.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
) is a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who most recently played for the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Personal life
Wheaton attended McClintock High SchoolMcClintock High School
McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...
in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
. Kenny was part of a strong football family in Tempe.
Kenny Wheaton's brother Derrek Wheaton also attended McClintock High School
McClintock High School
McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...
playing varsity football, basketball, and baseball. Derrek went on to play college football at Phoenix College
Phoenix College
Phoenix College is a community college located in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Founded in 1920, it is one of the oldest community colleges in the country....
and received a football scholarship to attend the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Derrek was killed on his way home from the Phoenix College football banquet, he was the random victim of a drive by shooting
Drive by Shooting
Drive by Shooting is a hardcore punk solo E.P. by Henry Rollins, credited to "Henrietta Collins & The Wife-Beating Child-Haters", which served as a pre-cursor to the Rollins Band. This recording features a Wire cover, a re-vision of a Queen song and a parody of a Beach Boys style song...
. The Arizona Junior High School Basketball Tournament honors Derrek's memory with the Derrek Wheaton MVP Award.
Wheaton's cousin Andre Bailey also played football at McClintock High School
McClintock High School
McClintock High School is located in Tempe, Arizona, approximately two miles southeast of the campus of Arizona State University. McClintock High School was established in 1964. McClintock moved to the Arizona 4A Conference beginning with the 2001-02 school year...
and went on to play college football at Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, is the largest of the 10 community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District and is the largest in the United States. MCC began in 1963 as a branch of Phoenix College and later granted independent status in 1965.MCC offers more than 200...
before attending the University of Texas El Paso.
Kenny also has two younger cousins that are currently playing college football. Marquese Wheaton who plays for University of Southern Mississippi and Markus Wheaton who plays for Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
College career
Wheaton played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
where, in his freshman season in 1994
1994 Oregon Ducks football team
-Schedule:-Washington:In the 1994 edition of the heated rivalry with the University of Washington, the #9-ranked Huskies came into Autzen Stadium with a 5-1 record, including a victory over the University of Miami, snapping a 58 game home winning streak. The game was a tough and close contest, with...
, he made arguably the most famous play in Ducks
Oregon Ducks
The Oregon Ducks refers to the sports teams of the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon. The Oregon Ducks are part of the Pacific-12 Conference in the Division 1 of the NCAA. With seventeen varsity teams, the Oregon Ducks are best known for their football team and Track and Field...
history known as "The Pick." As time was winding down and the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
was driving down to the Oregon nine-yard line, Wheaton intercepted a Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
pass and ran it back for a touchdown to save the game.
Dallas Cowboys
After three seasons at OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, Wheaton was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
. In three seasons with the Cowboys, Wheaton predominantly played on special teams.
Arena League
In 20022002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
, Wheaton joined the Detroit Fury
Detroit Fury
The Detroit Fury were an Arena Football League team. The team began play in 2001 and was based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, also the home of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. The team was co-owned by William Davidson, who owned the Pistons, along with...
of the Arena Football League playing nine games, but starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
in only six of them. He was later traded to the Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
during the offseason, only to be cut by the team in training camp.
Toronto Argonauts
In 20032003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
, Wheaton signed with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and was their starting defensive half back.
In 2004
2004 CFL season
The 2004 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 51st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 47th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2004:...
, during a playoff game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, Wheaton intercepted a pass into the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
. In a play reminiscent of "The Pick" in his famous college game, Wheaton returned the interception from deep in his own end for a touchdown setting a CFL post-season record for the longest ever interception return for a touchdown (116 yards). Wheaton went on to help his team win the 92nd Grey Cup
92nd Grey Cup
The 92nd Grey Cup game took place on November 21, 2004, at Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. The game decided the championship of the 2004 Canadian Football League season...
championship with the Argonauts that season.
Wheaton was named to CFL East Division All-Star team each year between 2005-2008.
On January 9, 2009, Wheaton was released by the Argonauts.