kˈævɐnˌɔː plˈeɪd kˈɑːlɪdʒ fˈʊtbɔːl æt luːˌiːzɪˈænə stˈeɪt jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi fɚðɪ ˌɛlˌɛsjˈuː tˈaɪɡɚz, wˌɛɹ hiː wʌz nˈeɪmd mˈoʊst vˈæljuːəbəl plˈeɪɚɹ ʌvðə sˈaʊθiːstɚn kˈɑːnfɹəns ænd ɐ kənsˈɛnsəs ˈɔːlɐmˈɛɹɪkən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi nˈaɪn ˈæftɚ lˈiːdɪŋ ðə nˈeɪʃən ɪn ɹᵻsˈɛpʃənz ænd ɹᵻsˈiːvɪŋ jˈɑːɹdz.
Kavanaugh played college football at Louisiana State University for the LSU Tigers, where he was named most valuable player of the Southeastern Conference and a consensus All-American in 1939 after leading the nation in receptions and receiving yards.