Hall of Fame
Position: Offensive Guard
Years: 1969-1971
Place of Birth: Detroit, MI
Date of Birth: Jul 27, 1950
Jersey Number: 65
Height: 6-4
Weight: 255
High School: Highland Park, MI (Highland Park HS)
Coach Bo Schembechler remembers Reggie McKenzie as an "unheralded sophomore, a tall gangly kid." In that 1969 sophomore season McKenzie was a back-up in the Michigan offensive line before becoming a starter in his junior year. As a junior, he became an All-Big Ten player as the Wolverines had a 9-1 season and finished seventh nationally. That season he played in the same line with Hall of Fame tackle Dan Dierdorf. Like Dierdorf, McKenzie was a punishing run blocker and an effective pass blocker, but Reggie stood out with his ability to pull and block downfield. In 1971, Reggie repeated as an all-conference player and became a consensus All-America pick as Michigan had an undefeated regular season, sending McKenzie to his second Rose Bowl. "Being called an All-America at Michigan and being selected to the College Football Hall of Fame are really huge" McKenzie said. "I feel truly blessed and honored." Playing for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, McKenzie was on another great offensive line as he was part of the Electric Company line that paved the way for O.J. Simpson's historic 2000-yard season. After 11 years with the Bills, he closed his athletic career by playing two seasons in Seattle.
