SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Bryant University football alums Tom Kennedy '18, MBA '19, Joe Andreessen '22 and Kenny Dyson Jr. '23 are all competing for a NFL roster spot this preseason. 

Kennedy is currently in his sixth pro season and is in camp with the Detroit Lions, while Andreessen and Dyson are in their first pro seasons. Both Andreessen (Bills) and Dyson (Panthers) signed as undrafted free agents. 

A native of Farmingdale, N.Y., Kennedy has appeared in 20 NFL games with the Lions over three seasons. He has 14 catches for 195 career yards and also threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in 2021. Kennedy played just two seasons (2017, 2018) of football but was a four-year member of the men's lacrosse team. On the gridiron, Kennedy was a First Team All-NEC selection in 2017 after posting 57 catches for 888 yards and nine touchdowns. He would finish his career with 90 catches for 
1,298 yards. 

Andreessen, a Lancaster, N.Y., native, played five seasons at Bryant before finishing up his career at University at Buffalo near his hometown in Western New York. Andreessen has shined in two preseason games for the Bills, posting a team-leading 16.0 tackles. He was dominant in Buffalo's preseason game at Pittsburgh, collecting 12.0 tackles. At Bryant, Andreessen earned All-America honors and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award  in 2022 after setting the Bryant single-season record with 116.0 tackles. He concluded his Bryant career with 256.0 tackles in 39 career games. 

Dyson signed with Carolina after wrapping up a dominant career as one of the best edge rushers in Bryant history. He made his preseason debut close to home as he took the field against the Patriots in Gillette. Dyson was a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time All-New England selection in Smithfield, posting 25.5 career sacks (3rd at Bryant) and 35.0 TFLs.