Ken Kocher Class: Senior Hometown: San Diego, CA High School: Patrick Henry Height / Weight: 6-4 / 306 Position: Defensive Tackle Birthdate: 07/30/1980

UCLA — This talented senior figures to be one of the leaders of the defensive line while battling for a starting position … An outstanding tackle, he should have a breakthrough season in 2001 after being plagued by injuries throughout last season … He enjoyed a productive Spring Practice … Kocher possesses excellent size, strength and quickness and plays with tenacity … He is one of the strongest players on the Bruin squad.

2000 — Kocher battled injuries (sprained ankle and sprained knee) throughout his junior season … On the year, he appeared in nine games, starting once (Oregon State) … He played at least 25 snaps on six occasions, including 43 against Wisconsin, 41 versus USC, 30 at Oregon and 26 against Arizona State, California and Washington … He made 13 tackles on the season, including two sacks … Kocher made a season-high four stops, including a sack, versus Oregon State and three tackles, including a sack, versus USC.

1999 — Kocher ranked second among defensive linemen with 43 tackles, including five for loss … Played in 10 of 11 games, missing the Washington contest with an ankle injury suffered on the fifth play of the Arizona game … Started the first nine games of the year and played in the finale against USC off the bench … Played at least 50 snaps in seven games prior to his injury, including 70 at Oregon State, 67 versus Fresno State and Arizona State, 65 against California, 63 at Ohio State and 62 versus Oregon … He was at his best against Ohio State, making eight tackles (four primaries), including two for losses, and recovered a fumble to halt a Buckeye scoring drive … At Arizona State, Kocher made seven tackles, including one for loss … Against Fresno State, he was credited with six tackles, including one for loss, and broke up one pass … He was credited with four tackles versus Boise State, Stanford and California and three at Oregon State (two pass breakups).

1998 — As a true freshman, Kocher made his first career start in the Rose Bowl game versus Wisconsin and was credited with a season-high three tackles … He played in all 12 games and played at least 20 snaps in each of the last nine contests, including 48 versus Wisconsin, 38 versus USC, 37 at Miami and 33 against Oregon … On the year, he made 14 tackles, including three for losses, and recovered two fumbles (Oregon and Wisconsin) … Kocher made three stops at California and versus Wisconsin and two each against Houston (both for loss), Washington State and Arizona … He also played on the field goal block unit.

HIGH SCHOOL — Kocher enjoyed an outstanding career at Patrick Henry HS in San Diego … Three-year letterwinner in football for coach Jerry Varner … Registered 124 tackles with 18 sacks, one blocked field goal, three fumble recoveries and six caused fumbles as a senior … USA Today first-team All-America … Member of PrepStar Dream Team (No. 10 DL) … PrepStar Western Region Super 30 … PrepStar All-America (No. 3 DL in West) … National Recruiting Advisor All-America (No. 2 NG and No. 31 on the National 100) … ESPN SportsZone third-team All-America … ESPN SportsZone No. 9 DL … ESPN SportsZone No. 31 prospect … The Sporting News Top 100 (No. 52 prospect) … SuperPrep All-America (No. 30 DL) … SuperPrep Far West Defensive Player of the Year and No. 18 prospect … Cornwell’s National Top 100 … Member of Tacoma News-Tribune Western 100 … Member of Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Best in the West (a perfect 10 votes) … Student Sports All-State first team … Twice selected to San Diego Union-Tribune’s All-San Diego County team … Selected to play in the Shrine All-Star game … Named Eastern League Defensive Player of the Year … Honored as a Scholar-Leader-Athlete by the San Diego chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame … PrepStar pre-season All-America … National Recruiting Advisor pre-season All-America (No. 6 OG in nation and No. 4 OL in West) … SuperPrep pre-season All-America (No. 31 DL) … As a junior, he made 102 tackles, 11 quarterback sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered … Also lettered two seasons in baseball for coach Marv Blevins … Hit .292 as a sophomore and .390 as a junior, including a .494 league average while playing first base and the outfield.

PERSONAL — Full Name: Kenneth Phillip Kocher … Born: July 30, 1980 in Fullerton, CA … Parents: Randy and Wendy Kocher … Has an older sister, Alyssa, and a younger brother, Matt, who walked on to the Bruin football team in the Fall of 2000 … Lists recording five quarterback sacks in a high school game which clinched the league championship as his biggest athletic thrill … Patterns his style of play after San Diego Charger defensive tackle John Parrella … Hobbies include hunting and lifting weights … Youth leader in the South Bay United Pentecostal Church … History major.

Varsity Statistics - K. Kocher
Tackles

Career Highs
Tackles: 8 vs. Ohio State, 1999; 7 vs. Arizona State, 1999; 6 vs. Fresno State, 1999