ESPN College GameDay features heartwarming Kenyon Sadiq profile

Reporter Marty Smith presented a video essay to tell the Kenyon Sadiq story Saturday morning on ESPN College GameDay.

The story opened with images of the green, wide-open country where Sadiq grew up, a small town in Idaho called McCammon, population 824.

"Growing in Idaho, I didn't know whether I had the ability to play college football to be honest," Sadiq said.

His mother told Smith, "I would tell him one day, they're going to know your name."

"Just a guy from humble beginnings, and where he's at right now is so impressive," Dan Lanning said.

"I know a lot comes from my dad and the role model he was," said Kenyon's mother, speaking about Sadiq's grandfather, a McCammon policeman and coach.

"He's the reason I'm here today, honestly," Kenyon said. "I feel like I'm kind of living out his dream too."

Smith recounted how Sadiq outgrew the competition in his local community, the family moving to the bigger city of Idaho Falls so that he could play 5A football. Sadiq continued to shine, starring in three sports, a Gem State phenom who played basketball and ran track in addition catching 78 passes as a senior on a state champion team, for 1,162 yards and 19 touchdowns.

His Skyline High School team won three straight state championships as Sadiq drew attention from his dream school, Oregon, committing in August of 2022.

His grandfather got to see him score his first touchdown as a freshman before his beloved mentor passed away unexpectedly. Before every game Sadiq says a prayer to remember him.

A junior now, he leads the team with three receiving touchdowns, 9 catches for 155 yards. He's a potent lead blocker, projected for the first round of the NFL draft.

Last time he played Penn State, he scored a pair of touchdowns in the Big Ten Championship.

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