2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: OT Kodi Kieler

2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: OT Kodi Kieler Expectation: All Big Ten Starting RT Height: 6’6” Weight: 320# 2015 Eligibility: Red Shirt Junior

2015 Spartan Nation Football Profile: OT Kodi Kieler

Expectation: All Big Ten Starting RT

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 320#

2015 Eligibility: Red Shirt Junior

EXP: 2 Letters

Status: Starting RT

Strengths: Power, passion, effort and toughness. Let’s go right to the tape. Against Baylor in the Cotton Bowl with 4:40 to go in the first quarter, MSU had the ball at their own 28 in the gun with a running back offset to Cook’s right with four wide receivers stacked on both sides. It was a three yard run which wouldn’t have got a lot of attention BUT what you might have overlooked was Kieler engaging the DE to clear out space and even while ON HIS KNEES he continued to block and make room. This kid has no clue what the word quit means. None. There is no player on this team at ANY position who will give more. Some will give as much, but when it comes to effort, he is the Drew Neitzel of football.

Weakness: Let’s stay right there in the Cotton Bowl. 4th quarter with 11:45 on the clock and MSU was down 41-28 to Baylor. MSU had a first and ten at the Bears 14. The DE gave Kieler a speed rush from the wide nine technique. He was able to get to Cook and wrap him up (no sack) and Cook threw a really bad interception. Cook shouldn’t have thrown the ball, but Kieler was slow on his first step moving laterally and got caught and put his QB in that situation. Kieler is young and learning, but if he can fix that first step quick twitch, he can play on Sundays. He has the work ethic and drive, so I wouldn’t be concerned about it.

Final Analysis: Raised by an amazing single mother, Kieler doesn’t like football, he loves it. He can be in a room and despite his Herculean size you wouldn’t know because he is shy, almost bashful. Now don’t read into that lacking confidence, he prefers to let his play speak for himself.

Whatever his mother did as a single mother, she raised herself a man. Kieler is gentle, kind, well loved by his teammates, and more importantly respected. Coach Dantonio raves about him like he is his own son and that should tell you all you need to know. I am a complete buyer on this kid and one year ago I called him MICHIGAN STATE’S NEXT GREAT OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.

Kieler is everything you want in a son or a player for your team. He has a man’s body and a real man’s character. He is a very good football player, but an OUTSTANDING person. I expect him to be the best RT in the B1G when the season is over. Just don’t look for him to tell you.

I asked him last year why he loved football and he took several moments to think about it. That shows his mind as well. He puts the student in student athlete. After pondering it he said, “It just gets all the energy out. I feel relaxed afterwards. You get all the anger out and everything. I can control it. Some people who are loud and like to talk loud, they can’t control their anger or anything. With me, I just bottle it up and try to hit the person in front of me.”

I love this kid! The pride of Rockwood, Michigan has done nothing but make the Spartan Nation proud.

Next up: R.J. Shelton