AOB Crusaders Derek Kucharski charges the line

Austin O’Brien Crusaders QB, Derek Kucharski, has been a student of the game for the past 8 years. It could be said that this young athlete eats, breathes, and sleeps football. In his own words when asked what the sport means to him Derek replied,

“Football means everything to me. Without football, I don’t know what I would do. When the off season comes around I have a countdown to the next season because it is my life. I spend my Sundays watching NFL football, no matter what the teams are. If something football is happening, I’m watching or playing it.”

Derek models his game play after Pittsburgh Steelers QB, Ben Roethlisberger. Ask him why and he has this to say,  “For how big he is, it’s amazing how he extends plays every Sunday. Me being a bigger guy I look and that and say “I can do that too.”  

Having that level of confidence and drive comes from having amazing people in his life to support and encourage his athletic journey. Derek says his dad and his uncle are the most influential people in his life when it comes to football.

“Probably the most is my dad. He’s never missed a game of mine unless he absolutely couldn’t make it. He drives me to wherever I need to be and always encourages me to be better. Second is my Uncle. He’s given me so much advice on things when I needed it. Third is probably my brother. He always has my back when I need help with something whether it’s school or football. He encourages me to do my best in everything I do.”

His favorite thing about his position is the trust that his team has in him.

“I feel like I have the trust of every guy in the huddle. I have their back, they have my back.”

He goes on to say that he likes the fact that, “….so much that goes through my head each play, and I love when defences try to throw something different my way”.

As for when he is playing defensive end, Derek says, “ I love the physicality of the position, but also the craftiness it takes to shed a block and make a tackle. On defence it’s a real brotherhood with the other 11 guys out there with you, and nothing beats that feeling.”

Coach Ogonoski at AOB had recruited him to play for AOB when he was in grade 8 playing in his first year of Bantam football. ”I told him I’d come to AOB and never looked back.”  

For the future, Derek hasn’t yet committed to any post secondary schools. He would like to get a degree in Accounting or Teaching, specifically, Physical Education.

As for football, Derek would like to play university football after high school. He is hoping that he will be able to go to the University of Calgary.

“I worked with one of their former offensive coordinators in the Team Alberta Hawaii camp in August 2016, and I really enjoyed the system he ran and the way he coached.” He goes on to say,  “I would also like to go to the U of A because it is so close to home, and I always wanted to win the U of A a national championship.”  

Moving from high school football to university and college level takes some adjustment. Derek says that “…it would probably take me a game or two, but at the end of the day football is football, and when you adjust it just all feels the same.”  

During the off-season, he plans to participate in a weight training program run by the coaching staff at AOB. He is also thinking about going to several QB clinics to work on his mechanics. He finishes off by saying,

“It’s our commitment to stay on the senior football team and we all take pride in that commitment.”

Derek Kucharski
QB, DE
6’1, 195lbs

Team(s) : Edmonton Seahawks, Austin O’ Brien Crusaders Senior Football,  Edmonton Elite Zone 6 Alberta Summer Games 2016, Team Alberta Hawaii (Camp)
Official Visits : none
Commitment: none
Considerations: open
Class: 2019

 

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