Kenny Vaccaro

Kenneth Dwayne Vaccaro (born February 15, 1991) is an American football safety for New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas. The New Orleans Saints selected him with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Early years
Vaccaro was born in Brownwood, Texas. He attended Early High School in Early, Texas, and played high school football for the Early Longhorns and the Brownwood Lions.

College career
Vaccaro enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2009 to 2012.

Freshman year
His freshman year he appeared in all 13 games, both as a safety and on special teams. He made 1 tackle, blocked 1 punt and also forced a fumble in a game vs. Texas A&M. Texas ended the season with a 21-37 loss to Alabama Crimson Tide. Vaccaro sacked quarterback Sam Bradford in the 2010 Red River Rivalry.

Sophomore year
In his sophomore year, he saw more playing time in all 12 games with 6 starts: two games started as a safety and the other 4 as a nickelback. His best game of his career was against Oklahoma State where he caught his first college career interception. He had 9 tackles (8 solo), 1 tackle for loss and 2 pass breakups before the game was over. When the season was over, Vaccaro had amassed 54 total tackles (42 solo), one interception, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumbles and 8 passes broken up. The Longhorns had their first losing season (5–7) in 13 years.

Junior year
Vaccaro started all 13 games as a safety his junior year and finished the season as a solid starter for the Texas Longhorns. He had 82 total tackles with 8 for a loss, 2.0 sacks, 8 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. In the Holiday Bowl Vaccaro and his defense held the California Golden Bears to 7 rushing yards and 195 yards of total offense. He had 5 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and a sack. They went on to win the game with the final score standing at 21-10.

Senior year
As a senior in 2012, Vaccaro was named a first-team All-American by Pro Football Weekly.

2013 NFL Draft
Vaccaro was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round, with the 15th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL Draft.

2013 season
In the first game of the 2013 season, against the Saints' longtime division rival, the Atlanta Falcons, Vaccaro made a crucial play late in the game: he prevented an Atlanta touchdown by deflecting a fourth down pass away from its intended receiver, Tony Gonzalez, and into the hands of Saints safety Roman Harper, securing the Saints' 23-17 win. In the 2013 season, Vaccaro played in 14 games making 79 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and 6 passes defended.