5/3/2015 Kennard Backman carries legacy of UAB to Green Bay Subscribe Subscriber Login Search JSOnline Today's Paper News Watchdog Opinion Sports Business Food Entertainment Lifestyle Multimedia Marketplace Jobs Autos Homes Green Bay Packers Home » Sports » Green Bay Packers PACKERS BLOG The Journal Sentinel's beat writers provide the latest news, notes and analysis on the Kennard Backman carries legacy of UAB to Green Bay Packers. What they are saying on the Web about the Packers' draft (5) Packers sign Pittsburgh OL Matt Rotheram; other free agents (12) At No. 206, Packers draft FB Aaron Learn: MailChimp Ripkowski in sixth round (7) Packers take TE Kennard Backman in sixth round at 213 for final pick of 2015 draft START (2) In UCLA's Brett Hundley, McCarthy gets a QB to groom (16) View All Blog Posts Learn: Photography START Associated Press Kennard Backman was a four­year performer at UAB. By Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel May 2, 2015 Tweet 7 ShaLre arn3: Marketing EMAIL PRINT (1) COMMENTS Green Bay — The Green Bay Packers liked the fact Kennard Backman START Packers, NFL Picks has the good hands of a former basketball player and the mentality of a Powered by adiplfyormer defensive lineman with 73 tackles and seven sacks in high Packers' picks: Round­ school, so they made him their newest member of the tight ends group by­round selections, bios Saturday. Draft: Pick­by­pick Backman just liked the idea of being able to continue to play the game. coverage Although the University of Alabama­Birmingham had two players selected in the NFL draft — receiver J.J. Nelson to Arizona in the fifth round and Backman in the sixth — the football program was disbanded. Related Coverage The program had heard rumors that it might happen and then found out the news for good in December. Thompson goes for versatility with picks "I think around midseason we heard some reports that it may possibly Michigan linebacker could end in the 2016 season, but definitely not this year," said Backman. get shot to start for "And if anything, we thought if we were able to get bowl eligible and win Packers some games, that would kind of knock that notion away." Brett Hundley joins When the final news arrived, it shocked everyone. Packers' quarterback ranks "I've never seen so many grown men cry in one room," said Backman. Notes: Kuhn has company in Ripkowski But he has an opportunity to carry the legacy of the program — which Pittsburgh guard Matt Packers general manager Ted Thompson noted was a good one — as a Rotheram picks Green Bay pro with Green Bay, joining Richard Rodgers and Andrew Quarless. Bengals sign UW­ With 39 receptions for 399 yards and three touchdowns, the 6­foot­3, Whitewater receiver Jake 243­pound tight end is athletic with the versatility the Packers like at Kumerow to free agent that position. deal NFC North: Vikings happy "We like the speed. He's an athletic type, linear built, basketball­looking with their haul type guy," said Thompson. What they are saying on "I like the fact that he sticks his face in there, too," said Packers coach http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/kennard-backman-carries-legacy-of-uab-to-green-bay-b99492196z1-302325531.html 1/5 5/3/2015 Kennard Backman carries legacy of UAB to Green Bay "I like the fact that he sticks his face in there, too," said Packers coach the Web about the Packers' Mike McCarthy. draft Ted Thompson's picks Backman played two ways in high school, and was an honorable mention all­state defensive lineman at Whitefield Academy High School in Georgia, where he got those 73 tackles and seven sacks. He was named to the Associated Press' second team for tight end. Video At UAB he was a four­year performer. "I've played inside, I've played split out, I've played H­back in the VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS backfield a little bit like a fullback," said Backman. "I think the versatility in that sense, being able to move from one side of the formation to another formation...is going to help me a lot. Maybe one of the reasons why they chose me." He also said he is a willful blocker and actually enjoys that physical part of the game. Dunne: Packers Stay Creative on Day 2 "I just think it's my nature in general," said Backman. Page 1 of 2 Now that UAB football is over, he simply has to move on. "It's so tough just to think about it," said Backman. "It's disappointing though, the fact that some people had to transfer down or some people (http://cinesport.jsonline.com/nfl-green- had to move conferences....Adversity happens sometimes, but I think sometimes it's important to fight through it." bay-packers/nfl-draft-day-2-observations- Poll analysis/) What grade would you About Lori Nickel NFL Draft Day 2 Observations & Analysis give the Packers’ draft? Lori Nickel covers the Packers, writes other sports features RotoExperts’ Jayson Braddock and CineSport’s Justin Termine discuss the free fall of Nebraska pass rusher and also writes a weekly health and fitness column and Randy Gregory and the big winner on Day 2 of the NFL A blog, Chin Up. Draft. B @LoriNickel ✉ [email protected] Get More NFL Video (http://video.cinesport.com/nfl) C D F vote View Results More Packers/NFL Video (http://cinesport.jsonline.com/nfl- (http://www.cinesport.com) green-bay-packers/) Packers Chat Upcoming Chats Noon Monday, May 4 PACKERS AND THE Green Bay Packers players NFL DRAFT Bob McGinn Tweets from a list by Journal Sentinel Packers beat writer Follow Packers players on Twitter. Submit Questions Sam shields III 4h @ShieldSam37 Photos This is my Era #TMT Expand Cant Tell Me Nothing 5h @REAL_MoGreen @show_case29 lol flores is a fan of action and not excellent boxing. Ppl don't like Spurs cuz they boring. Ppl rather see deep pass thn rush Packers and the 2015 NFL Draft Retweeted by Casey Hayward Expand Live Draft Blog Casey Hayward 5h @show_case29 See Wisconsin athletes on Twitter Packers beat writers Tweets from a list by Journal Sentinel Join the discussion all three Follow Bob McGinn, Tom Silverstein, Tyler days of the NFL draft as Tom Dunne and Lori Nickel on Twitter. Silverstein and Tyler Dunne answer questions and provide Tom Silverstein 4h live updates and analysis from Lambeau Field. @TomSilverstein New from JS: What they are saying on the Day 1 live blog Web about the Packers' draft ift.tt/1dElk9l Day 2 live blog #Packers Day 3 live blog Show Summary http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/kennard-backman-carries-legacy-of-uab-to-green-bay-b99492196z1-302325531.html 2/5 5/3/2015 Kennard Backman carries legacy of UAB to Green Bay Tyler Dunne 6h 2015 Packers' Draft Picks @TyDunne Looks like the next fight is set. Here are the Green Bay Packers' twitter.com/itscrab/status… picks by round in the 2015 NFL Expand Draft: Tyler Dunne 6h Rd. No. Pick 1 30 Damarious Randall @TyDunne 2 62 Quinten Rollins 3 94 Ty Montgomery Follow Journal Sentinel beat writers on Twitter 4 129 Jake Ryan 5 147 Brett Hundley 6 206 Aaron Ripkowski LATEST PACKERS PHOTO GALLERIES 6 210 Christian Ringo 6 213 Kennard Backman PACKERS' PICKS: Capsules, stats, scouts' comments on all GB's selections Draft order: Every round, every pick Packers and the 2015 An inside look at Mike NFL Draft Daniels' off­season training Bob McGinn Draft Series WRs: Story | Ratings QBs: Story | Ratings OL: Story | Ratings RBs: Story | Ratings DL: Story | Ratings Ex­reporter, PR head Patriots 28, Seahawks LBs: Story | Ratings Lee Remmel dies at 90 24 DBs: Story | Ratings Specialists: Story | Ratings 1 of 4 NFL Draft Basics FAN PHOTO GALLERY Where: Auditorium Theatre of Share your green and gold spirit in a fan Roosevelt University, Chicago. photo gallery. Thursday, April 30: First round, 7 p.m. View gallery | Submit photo Friday, May 1: Second and Steve Hedrick the unofficial tailgate third rounds, 6 p.m. photographer ­ Elida, OH Saturday, May 2: Fourth through seventh rounds, 11 a.m. OLD SCHOOL PACKERS Time limits: First round — 10 "Old School Packers" minutes per selection. Second round — 7 minutes. Third reprises a notable game through seventh rounds — 5 or event in franchise minutes. history with the original newspaper accounts Pick­by­pick: Draft order, from the Milwaukee selections for 2015 NFL draft Journal and Sentinel. OLD SCHOOL ARCHIVE NFL Draft Section PACKERS BASICS 2015 Schedule Draft picks Salaries 2015 NFL Draft: Get news, Free agents Packers' picks, draft basics, mock drafts and more Roster Injuries Buy Packers tickets Official Web site 1 Comments » 2014 Read and share your thoughts on this story. 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