hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
1:46 pm, Monday, October 12, 2026
65°F
78 %
Wind Gust: 2 mph
Clouds: 4%
Sunrise: 6:55 am
Sunset: 6:09 pm

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER





Kenney showcases football skill on national level

by | Aug 8, 2024 | Featured: Sports, Sports

Cam Kenney

Cam Kenney poses for a picture at last month’s Middle School Dream All-American game in Frisco, Texas.

Football is a fall sport, but Cam Kenney has spent the summer in pads competing at the highest level. The 14-year-old Hopkinton resident kicked off his summer in mid-June at Football University Camp at Belmont Hill, where he was selected for the Grade 8 Under Armor All-America Game that will be held this winter.

In late June, he went to Georgia for a national lineman showcase known as The Show, put on by NXGen Sports. Then, in July, Kenny took part in a national combine at Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas, earning a spot on the all-camp team.

During that trip, he was able to take part in the Middle School Dream All-American game at Dallas Cowboys headquarters in Frisco.

It’s been a whirlwind, but Kenney said it has been a lot of fun, too.

“It’s been great,” he said. “It’s been really good competition, great coaching and I got to showcase my skills and have a really good time with some teammates and make some new friends.”

Kenney drew strong reviews from the coaches who watched him compete at camps. Words like “explosive,” “tough” and “aggressive” were among those most often used to describe his game.

While Kenney is done playing football for a few weeks, his preparation for the coming season has not stopped. He is in the gym five days per week and getting set for his first year at Dexter-Southfield School in Brookline. He is hoping to see as much varsity time as possible.

“I need to get myself ready for the bigger, faster kids I am going to be going up against,” Kenney said.

At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, Kenney is bigger than most eighth graders. But he said he will probably see more snaps at center at the varsity level, since he is a little undersized to play guard. Kenney said he expects to see some JV time as well, and he’ll likely play guard at that level.

Kenney said he wants to stay consistent in the gym and also continue to develop as a pass blocker as the Dexter-Southfield season approaches.

“I want to be the best teammate and the best player I can be,” he said. “I am really excited. I met most of the guys, and they have a really strong team and a really good bond with one another.”

Kenney expects there to be some challenges, including the commute from Hopkinton to Brookline and the workload that comes from playing football and studying at an elite private school. Kenney said he is eager to learn from his older teammates, but he also is confident he can hang on the gridiron with kids who might be three or four years older than he is.

“Competing nationally, I have gone up against kids that are that much older than me,” he said. “I am not too worried about it.”

2 Comments

  1. Brendan Tedstone

    Great kid, great family. It’s great to see Cam get the attention he deserves. Football (and sports) is in his blood. I look forward to watching his development.

  2. Kerri Chatten

    Love you so much Cam…Can’t wait to watch you at the next level. Hard work pays off.

Related Articles

Move In Style Athlete Spotlight: Kate Riesenberger

After switching from outside hitter to the right side for the benefit of the team, Riesenberger “has really found her groove,” according to coach Jessie Karner. She recorded 37 kills — “A tremendous accomplishment on the right side,” Karner noted — in helping the...

HHS girls soccer looks to hit stride

The 2026 Hopkinton High School girls soccer team has a mix of returning players and newcomers, and coach Dan Collins is focused on getting his players to gel while making sure that all of them are key contributors to the overall success. “I say this all the time,...

HHS girls soccer

New talent, improved veterans pace HHS girls XC

Hopkinton High School girls cross country coach Jean Cann said that her relatively inexperienced team might suffer some losses this year, but she’s hoping the squad can find a love for running that will outlast the 2026 season. “I tell them this should be the...

HHS girls cross country

Move In Style Athlete Spotlight: Avery Quebec

Quebec picked up a goal and an assist through the team’s 2-1-1 start to the season, “but her impact goes far beyond the stat sheet,” shared coach Ally Valencia. The last two seasons — both of which ended with state tournament quarterfinal appearances — Quebec stood...

Move In Style Athlete Spotlight: Liam MacLennan

After spending the 2025 season with the junior varsity, MacLennan “played a ton of golf and has really come into his own,” according to coach Bill Phaneuf. MacLennan shined in tryouts and earned a starting spot in the team’s opening match. He responded by shooting...

HHS sophomore Clement joins USA U-17 soccer team

Hopkinton’s Nina Clement was selected for the U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team training camp, one of only two players from Massachusetts to earn a spot with the high-level team. The 24-player squad is preparing for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying next...

Nina Clement
Key Storage 4.14.22