RIP UCLA S Kenny Easley 1959-2025

This topic has 6 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 days, 8 hours ago by Butkus51.

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- November 17, 2025 at 5:51 pm #4652
  BigBalls
  Participant
  Oh wow, birthdates are getting closer to mine. Fawk. No cause of death revealed. At least he got to collect social security for a few years. Seriously consider collecting at 62 guys. I hope he didn’t defer until FTR of 67.
  
  https://x.com/RonnieLottHOF/status/1989792642016956426?s=20o
  - This topic was modified 6 days, 4 hours ago by BigBalls.
- November 17, 2025 at 6:07 pm #4656
  
  Java
  Keymaster
  
  UCLA version of Ronnie Lott
- November 17, 2025 at 6:27 pm #4659
  
  Butkus51
  Participant
  
  May Kenny Easley RIP and God Bless him. Condolences to his family. Dang, KE was a great FB player, Top 10 college safety of All Time. I will never forget him.
- November 17, 2025 at 7:36 pm #4671
  
  RWC
  Participant
  
  Kenny was one of the most intimidating and hardest hitting Safeties I’ve ever seen. He could play the whole field and also had 9 interceptions as a Freshman with a 10 game schedule.
  When UCLA beat #2 Ohio State 17-0 in 1980 at Columbus, Easley was still pissed because of the comments made by Buckeye players that UCLA was soft the year before when they beat the Bruins in the final minute. Easley was ejected for fighting all comers on the OSU sideline and punching a photographer in the face.
  He and Ronnie Lott have to be the two greatest Safeties of their time.
  - November 18, 2025 at 1:24 am #4696
    
    Butkus51
    Participant
    
    My Top Safeties of All Time.
    
    I’m not ranking them, too difficult. I just listed my All Time Safeties. These players are etched in my mind as Great FB players. Left many out, did not want my list get too big… Cheers
    
    Ronnie Lott, USC, 1977-80
    
    Kenny Easley, UCLA, 1977-80
    
    Jack Tatum, Ohio St, 1968-70
    
    Ed Reed, Miami, 1998-01
    
    Brian Dawkins, Clemson, 1992-95
    
    Ken Houston, Prairie View AM, Tx, 1963-66
    
    Troy Polamalu, USC, 1998-01
    
    Roy Williams, Oklahoma, 1999-2001
    
    Larry Wilson, Utah, 1956-59
    
    Willie Wood, USC, 1957-59
    
    Donnie Shell, South Carolina St, 1971-74
    
    Eric Berry, Tennessee, 2007-09
    
    George Webster, Michigan St., 1964-66
    
    Laron Landry, Louisiana St, 2003-06
    
    Joey Browner, USC, 1979-82
    
    Dennis Smith, USC, 1979-80
    
    Nolan Cromwell, Kansas, 1973-76
    
    Cliff Harris, Ouachita Baptist, 1966-69
    
    John Lynch, Stanford, 1989-92
- November 18, 2025 at 10:37 am #4707
  
  RWC
  Participant
  
  Good list 51, and I know I’m bias but Don Rogers certainly belongs somewhere on that list. Talent wise he was very similar to Easley, leading UCLA to 2 straight Rose Bowls. Just ask the Michigan players that played against him.
  - November 18, 2025 at 1:54 pm #4708
    Butkus51
    Participant
    Bruddah RWC, I remember Don Rogers well. Calif kid, from Sacramento. Top HS athlete, played FB, BB & BaseB making All State in FB & Area in the other 2 sports. One of the very best FB players and safeties, AA and All PAC. In HS, USC recruited him hard. Man, Rogers covered the field well and hit like a mack truck. He had great instincts for IT, reading QB eyes well. He played with high energy vs USC, heck I admired him Mucho. A consensus AA and 1st Rd NFL pick.
    
    Sadly, his life was cut short, 1986 at 23 yrs old (Coke overdose) in only his 2nd season in NFL. Thanxs Bruddah RWC for reminding us of Don Rogers… Cheers
    
    This reply was modified 5 days, 8 hours ago by Butkus51.
    
    This reply was modified 5 days, 8 hours ago by Butkus51.
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