Kevin Kolbeck
By Joe Torosian
(Azusa)- “You know who 87 is right?” Mid Valley Sports’ Tim Peterson said as the Azusa Pacific inter-squad scrimmage in March concluded. “That’s Kevin Kolbeck.”
When last seen on a football field Kevin Kolbeck was scoring a touchdown every 4.5 receptions and averaging 21-yards per grab for the San Dimas Saints in 2010.
As is the case with most high school athletes, even successful ones, it seemed like that was that. While some schools showed interest, Kolbeck decided to take his talents, along with his sore back, to Long Beach State to start the next chapter in his life.
A huge epiphany didn’t occur, but a process beginning with him going back to the Smudgepot contest between San Dimas and Bonita began to stir things.
“I missed being out there,” said Kolbeck when asked about what brought him to APU and back to football. “I missed being part of a team, the relationships, I missed scoring. I’d been playing three sports a year my entire life.”
Kolbeck began considering his options and was looking at a couple of schools back east. He wasn’t even thinking about APU, but a conversation with San Dimas assistant/APU “Get Back” Coach Dane Johnson brought things full circle.
“My brother happened to run into Coach Johnson,” Kolbeck said. “And Coach said that I should be playing at APU. I gave Coach (Johnson) a call, we had a good talk. I realized I had an opportunity to come back.”
“I said it was ridiculous,” said Johnson. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t be playing football. He has great hands, decent speed, and he’s really long.”
“We recruited him out of San Dimas,” said APU OC Rudy Carlton. “He definitely had a huge upside, he’s a dynamic athlete.”
Making up his mind to play was one thing, whether or not his body would allow him to play was another. Beyond being out of helmet and pads for a year was a lower back injury he sustained going into his final season at San Dimas.
“I over lifted,” said Kolbeck. “It wasn’t the same all year. It was one of the reasons I wasn’t going to play anymore. I was in so much pain. By the end of the season I wasn’t able to lift at all.”
While a year away from the game is certain doom for a young player for Kolbeck a year away from the pounding of football turned out to be a blessing.
“My back’s healed,” he said. “It just got better, it had time to heal. I’ve got no pain.”
Free from pain and his mind back in the game Kolbeck has made the team and is working out the kinks of being away from football for 12 months.
“It was great being back in pads again,” he said about the recently completed spring workouts at Azusa. “I was very rusty just at being a football player and getting back into the every day grind.”
“I know (Coach Victor) Santa Cruz is working him hard,” said Bill Zernickow, Kolbeck’s HC at San Dimas High School. “Kevin’s a great kid, I can’t wait to see how he does in college. He had great drive while he was here and wanted to be good, he really works hard.”
From a Delaware Wing to an Oregon-type of spread offense. Adjustments?
“Luckily I’ve been able to understand most of it (Coach Carlton’s offense),” said Kolbeck. “It’s just a lot of concepts and stuff, a lot of different routes and concepts. It’s interesting.”
“It was great to knock some of the rust off of him this spring,” said Carlton. “He’s got a lot more football and lot more in him that we’ll see. The pressure a 6-5 receiver puts on a defense is tremendous.”
“Once he gets adjusted to the scheme and physicality of the game, if not this year then next, he will be a weapon for them,” said Johnson.
Majoring in graphic design (minor in marketing), Kolbeck sees the difference between his current and former college.
“Definitely different than Long Beach,” he said. “I’ve been a Christian my whole life. It’s really good to have your leaders be men of faith. They talk to you a lot about doing the right thing and life lessons.”
While Kolbeck has grabbed back the fleeting and elusive fellowship of football, all that remains is getting into competition.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get on the field.
Cougar Notes: While talking about Kolbeck, Johnson was quick to mention another APU wide receiver, Tanner Henry… “That kid came in last year and didn’t play like a freshman, he came in and looked like he had played college ball for a while,” said Johnson and that it would be difficult for teams to double-up on Henry with someone like Kolbeck on the other side of the field…Henry played his high school football at Centennial Corona… “I’m really excited about the potential of our front five (offensive line),” says Carlton. “Plus Justin McPherson and Tyler Tuiasosopo made huge strides in being leaders of this football team.”….Did you know while it’s six hours from Azusa to UC Davis, it is also only six hours from Azusa to Dixie St. in St. George, Utah? …Fast Fact: APU is 4-2 all time against Nazarene colleges. 4-0 against Olivet Nazarene, 0-2 against Mid America Nazarene…
Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com
Follow him on Twitter at @joet13b
Leave a Reply