 Huff in 1977 | |||||||
| No. 62, 61 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1953-02-21)February 21, 1953 (age 72) Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Coronado (CA) | ||||||
| College: | North Carolina | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1975: 1st round, 3rd pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Kenneth Wayne Huff (born February 21, 1953) is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoffensive lineman in theNational Football League (NFL). He was also anAll-Americanguard at theUniversity of North Carolina.[1]
Huff was heavily recruited fromDeerfield Academy,Deerfield, Massachusetts, where he spent apostgraduate year afterCoronado High School outside ofSan Diego, California. Initially adefensive tackle until UNC CoachBill Dooley switched him to guard in his second day of practice, he immediately became astarter on theoffensive line. As a sophomore, he helped lead the University of North Carolina to an 11-1Atlantic Coast Conference championship. He played in the 1972 and 1974Sun Bowls,Hula Bowl, andSenior Bowl in 1975.
As a team captain in his senior season, he led an offensive line that produced two 1,000 yard backs and helped Carolina set a school total offense record. He was chosen first-team All-ACC and Consensus All-American in 1974 includingPlayboy’s Pre-Season All-American pick. Huff was a finalist for theOutland Trophy Award, won theJacobs Trophy as the league's best blocker, Jim Tatum Medal and was a two time recipient of the Bill Arnold Award as UNC's top lineman.
He was also named Captain of the College All-Stars in their game against the Super Bowl ChampionPittsburgh Steelers, selected to the 75th anniversary All Sun Bowl team in 2008, and listed as one of the top 25 lineman to play in the ACC. His number was retired at his high school alma mater and at UNC where his college jersey is hanging on the University's Honored Jersey section ofKenan Memorial Stadium.
Huff was the third overall pick in the1975 NFL draft by theBaltimore Colts, one pick ahead ofWalter Payton. In 1983, he was acquired by theWashington Redskins and became a member of the famed “Hogs” offensive line along withMark May,Russ Grimm,Joe Jacoby,Jeff Bostic andGeorge Starke. Huff retired in 1986 after 11 years and a career 145 games in the NFL.
In May 2008, Huff was inducted into theNorth Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Currently, Huff is the owner of an award-winning, custom home building company inChapel Hill, North Carolina. He is involved with numerous UNC and NFL related charity organizations as well as doing Public Service Announcements for Hope For The Warriors.
Received the Walter Camp Foundation Alumni of the Year for 2013.
Was UNC's selection to the Legends of the ACC, Class of 2015, joining Ga Tech's head coach Bobby Ross, Miami's Clinton Portis, Pitt's Tony Dorsett, and Clemson's Anthony Simmons to name a few.
Huff is a board member of the National Football Foundation's Bill Dooley Chapter, currently the largest chapter in the country (2015).
Named the 2016 Distinguished American Award by the Bill Dooley Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
Walter Camp Football Foundation Alumni President, 2019–present.
Named number 17 on UNC's top 25 players in football history (2021)