Carlo Kemp

Carlo Kemp
refer to caption
Kemp with the Michigan Wolverines in 2019
No. 2, 54
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1998-01-01) January 1, 1998 (age 27)
Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:281 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school:Fairview
College:Michigan
Undrafted:2021
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Carlo Kemp (born January 1, 1998) is a former American football linebacker. He played professionally for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Michigan.

Early life

Kemp was a four-year letterman at Fairview High School. He was a second-team All-Conference selection as a freshman. As a sophomore, he was named to the All-State first-team. In his junior season, he recorded 66 tackles, 20 tackles-for-loss, eight sacks and 11 rushing touchdowns. Following the season he again received first-team All-Conference and first-team All-State honors. As a senior he settled into the outside linebacker position, recording 81 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, four sacks and one blocked field goal. Following the season he again received first-team All-Conference and first-team All-State honors. He also received The Denver Post's Gold Helmet Award, as Colorado's top high school senior football player, for outstanding play, academics and citizenship.[1] He finished his career with 203 tackles, averaging 5.3 tackles per game, 14 career sacks, and one interception.[2]

Kemp was regarded as the best high school prospect out of the state of Colorado.[3] He received scholarship offers from Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin and Wyoming.[4][5] After official visits to Colorado, Michigan and Notre Dame, he committed to play for the Michigan Wolverines on November 8, 2015.[6]

College career

Kemp played college football for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 2016 to 2020. During his freshman season in 2016, he made his collegiate debut on September 17, 2016, in a game against Colorado.[7] During his sophomore season in 2017, he played in all 13 games. He began his career as a linebacker, then following the 2017 season, he became a defensive lineman.[8][9] During his junior season in 2018 he appeared in all 13 games, including 12 starts on the defensive line, and recorded 17 tackles.[10]

On August 21, 2019, he was named captain for the 2019 season.[11] During his senior season in 2019, he started 12 games and recorded 40 tackles, with 4.5 tackles-for-loss. Following the season he was named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches.[12] During his fifth-year senior season in 2020 he appeared in all six games with five starts on the defensive line, and recorded 21 tackles, and three tackles-for-loss, in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Following the season he was named All-Big Ten honorable mention.[14] Kemp participated in the 2021 Hula Bowl, where he was named Team Aina's Defensive MVP for the contest after he recorded four tackles in addition to a pick six.[15]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m) 		281 lb
(127 kg) 		30+1⁄8 in
(0.77 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 5.07 s 1.72 s 2.89 s 4.57 s 7.33 s 28.5 in
(0.72 m)		 8 ft 1 in
(2.46 m)		 27 reps
All values from Pro Day[16]

Green Bay Packers

After going undrafted in the 2021 NFL draft, he signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2021.[17][18][19] He was waived by the Packers on August 31, 2021.[20]

Denver Broncos

On December 31, 2021, Kemp was signed by the Denver Broncos to the practice squad.[21] He was released by the Broncos on January 3, 2022.[22]

Pittsburgh Maulers

On February 22, 2022, Kemp was drafted 10th overall by the Pittsburgh Maulers in the 2022 USFL draft. He led the Maulers with five sacks during the 2022 USFL season.[23][24]

Los Angeles Chargers

On July 21, 2022, Kemp signed with the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL.[25] He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day.[26][27] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.[28] He was waived on August 29, 2023.[29]

Birmingham Stallions

On December 22, 2023, Kemp signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).[30] He was waived by the team in March 2024.[31]

Houston Roughnecks

On March 13, 2024, Kemp was claimed off waivers by the Houston Roughnecks.[31] He retired on April 16, 2024.[32]

Personal life

Kemp is the nephew of former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach John Pagano.[2] He is the grandson of Sam Pagano, a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame inductee and former head coach at Boulder's Fairview High.[33]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlo Kemp.
  1. ^ Devlin, Neil H. (December 19, 2015). "Carlo Kemp wins The Denver Post's 2015 Gold Helmet Award". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Carlo Kemp". MGoBlue.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  3. ^ Devlin, Neil H. (November 8, 2015). "Carlo Kemp commits to Michigan: Fairview linebacker is Colorado's top recruit". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  4. ^ James, Tyler (June 9, 2015). "Colorado DE Carlo Kemp adds Notre Dame offer". ND Insider. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Devlin, Neil H. (June 10, 2015). "Carlo Kemp of Fairview piling up football scholarship offers". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Devlin, Neil H. (November 14, 2015). "Carlo Kemp's recruiting journey ends with Michigan". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  7. ^ "Postgame Notes: #4 Michigan 45, Colorado 28". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. September 17, 2016. Archived from the original on February 24, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Snyder, Mark (April 12, 2017). "Back at defensive end, Wolverines' Carlo Kemp feeling comfortable". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Sang, Orion (September 10, 2018). "Michigan football: DT Carlo Kemp gaining confidence at new position". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Sang, Orion (August 12, 2019). "Michigan football's Carlo Kemp implores teammates: 'You get one shot at history'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Sang, Orion (August 21, 2019). "Michigan football's captains in 2019 make sense. Here's why". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "Fourteen Wolverines Honored by Big Ten on Defense and Special Teams". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 3, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  13. ^ Sang, Orion (December 14, 2020). "Was the 2020 Michigan football season worth it? Carlo Kemp thinks so". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  14. ^ Ablauf, Dave; Shepard, Chad (December 16, 2020). "Five Wolverines Collect All-Big Ten Recognition on Defense". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  15. ^ Brown, Brandon (February 2, 2021). "Carlo Kemp Shows Off The Jets, Takes Home MVP Award". SI.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  16. ^ "2021 NFL Draft Scout Carlo Kemp College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Sang, Orion (May 2, 2021). "Michigan football's Nick Eubanks, Carlo Kemp sign UDFA deals after 2021 NFL draft". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  18. ^ Huber, Bill (May 2, 2021). "Get to Know Packers Undrafted Free Agent Edge Carlo Kemp". SI.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  19. ^ McMann, Aaron (May 7, 2021). "Michigan's Nick Eubanks, Carlo Kemp sign with NFL teams after going Packers". MLive.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  20. ^ "Packers announce roster moves". packers.com. August 31, 2021. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  21. ^ Swanson, Ben (December 31, 2021). "Broncos add five players, including Bradley Chubb and Jerry Jeudy, to Reserve/COVID-19 list". denverbroncos.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  22. ^ Klis, Mike (January 4, 2022). "Broncos' Gordon says team had too much talent to not make playoffs". 9news.com. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  23. ^ "USFL Draft 2022: Pittsburgh Maulers' round-by-round picks". foxsports.com. February 23, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  24. ^ Bittner, Adam (February 23, 2022). "USFL draft: Meet the Pittsburgh Maulers' inaugural class". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Zuke, Ryan (July 22, 2022). "Ex-Michigan DT signs with Chargers after strong season in USFL". MLive.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  26. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. August 30, 2022.
  27. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad". Chargers.com. August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  28. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign 12 Players to Contracts". Chargers.com. January 17, 2023.
  29. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. August 29, 2023.
  30. ^ @JamesLarsenPFN (December 22, 2023). "BREAKING: The Birmingham Stallions have signed DE/LB Carlo Kemp, per source" (Tweet). Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ a b Larsen, James (March 14, 2024). "Houston Roughnecks Re-Sign Isaiah Chambers, Claim Carlo Kemp". Pro Football Newsroom. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  32. ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  33. ^ Kornacki, Steve (October 3, 2019). "Kemp Learned Life's Lessons From His Accomplished Football Family". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 23, 2022.