Jake Kuresa will begin his senior year as one of the most experienced players on the 2006 Cougar football team. After redshirting his freshman year in 2002, he has started in every game over the past three seasons making it a total of 37 starts.
"Playing college football is tough to juggle," the 2006 Outland Trophy candidate said. "It gets tough but it is fun. There hasn't been one second I thought it hasn't been worth it. Preparing for the games, running out on the field and playing in front of your family and fans is such a good feeling."
The Utah All-American
The 6-foot-4, 339-pound senior is used to playing with older players but not necessarily bigger ones. When Kuresa was younger and in elementary school he would go to practice everyday with his dad, David (see chart below), who started coaching at Cache Valley's Mountain Crest High School in 1986.
"I would bring Jake to practice with me everyday because my wife taught school," David said. "We would let him do the drills with the players, and when I watched game film Jake was right next to me. He was a smart player and was educated in the game for many years. I think that's why he's so successful in college."
Kuresa started playing tackle football in fourth grade but had to play with the eighth graders because he was so big. He was forced to play inside the tackles until high school, where he played both offensive and defensive lines, fullback and tight end.
"Jake started as a freshman for us because he weighed 280 pounds and had better technique than anybody," said David who was also Kuresa's high school coach. "He was always a step ahead of everybody and was always watching film."
Kuresa was a four-year letterwinner in both basketball and football at MCHS. He chose to pursue college football even though he earned all-region honors in basketball as a junior and second-team all-state as a senior.
"I was a good basketball player but a dominant football player," Kuresa said. "Growing up football just came easy because of my size. That's the body God gave me so I took it and got my school paid for."
By the time Kuresa entered his senior year in high school he was receiving attention from the top football programs in the country. Helping Mountain Crest defeat Box Elder in the 2002 Utah State Championship, his senior-season play ranked him among the top five defensive line prospects in the nation. He received All-America honors and football scholarship offers from schools all over the country.
Of all the colleges that recruited Kuresa, he narrowed his interests to USC, Oregon and BYU. His dad thought he would be a Trojan, but after a recruiting trip to BYU Kuresa wanted to play there. He liked the coaches, the facilities were impressive, the campus was two hours from home and at the time BYU was 10-0 behind Luke Staley and Brandon Doman. What sealed the deal for Kuresa was the lifestyle BYU offered and how the players acted around him.
"Ultimately BYU offered a lifestyle that I was used to, like not doing things on Sunday," Kuresa said. "The guys at other schools tried to act tough, but when I came to BYU I saw return missionaries and players with families. In two or three years I wanted to be like them, guys like Gabe Reid and Ifo Pili."
Successful Preparation
A big part of Kuresa's success on the field comes from his physical and mental preparation. Most boys at the age of 14 spend their summers hanging out with friends and riding around on their bikes and skateboards. By that time, Kuresa had already decided that he wanted to play college football.
"The summer after my eighth-grade year I started lifting," Kuresa said. "One of my goals was that I wanted to start as a freshman in high school and eventually get a scholarship."
Growing up he developed the habit of working hard and studying game film with his dad. Those lessons learned then are now paying off at the college level. Entering the 2006 season Kuresa is ranked as one of the top tackles in the nation, and he prepares for every game the same way he did in high school, studying the opponent's every move.
"Jake really respects his opponents," said offensive line coach Jeff Grimes. "The more he respects his opponents the better he'll prepare for the game by knowing their strengths and weaknesses."
On game days you won't see Kuresa rocking out to music. He prepares different than most players do. He starts well in advance so when he shows up on Saturday he is relaxed and just reacts as plays happen.
"I get film from my coach, ask questions and study the scouting report," Kuresa said. "When I get to the stadium I'm ready. Sometimes I'm out on the field with John Beck trying to hit the goal post or you might see me listening to slow music. The fact of the matter is I would rather get ready on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It's not that I don't take the game seriously, but I like to be mellow."
The Switch
Kuresa came to BYU as one of the top defensive recruits the Cougar football program has ever signed. After the offensive line lost one of its starters before the season-opener his freshman year, Kuresa was asked to make the switch to offensive tackle.
"My freshman year was awkward," he said. "I didn't want to make the switch at first. To myself I was thinking that I was one of BYU's best defensive line recruits in the past 10 years, but I wanted to play as a freshman. So I talked a lot with my dad, made the switch and fell in love with it. My potential as an offensive lineman is far greater than it ever could have been as a defensive lineman."
In high school Kuresa loved playing D-line because that is where the quick and athletic athletes played. He quickly realized that in college the O-line requires quick hands and feet and mental preparation.
"In one play as an offensive lineman you need to worry about where the defensive pressure can come from and if a defensive player comes my way I need to know which way I need to block him," Kuresa said. "It is very challenging and you've got to use your own skills. I thought they put the non-athletic guys there but it is really satisfying when you put a lot of work mentally and physically into the offensive line position."
Kuresa has successfully taken on the challenge of switching to the offensive line. Last season Lindy's Football Annuals dubbed him the league's "best pass blocker".
"Jake is a very smart player and really understands the game well," said Coach Grimes.
His leadership and play on the line over the past three years has earned BYU's offensive line rankings of 9 and 13 overall by The Sporting News and Phil Steele's, respectively, for the upcoming season.
"Jake was incredible on the defensive side of the ball," his father said. "But I knew he would be more incredible if he played offense because his toughness and quick feet. He is tall, wide and has a good knowledge of the game, but his feet are what separate him from the next guy."
Turns out that one of BYU's best-ever defensive line recruits of a few years ago has turned into one of their best offensive lineman.
The Road Ahead
As Kuresa enters his last college season there is no need to ask him if he has thought about what he wants to do after his senior year. He made that decision long ago. The road ahead has many options. Before he takes the step of pursuing a high school football and basketball-coaching career like former teammate and Cougar lineman Lance Reynolds, Kuresa wants to give the NFL a shot.
"If the NFL doesn't work out then I want to coach high school football and basketball," Kuresa said. "That seems to be the most fun thing I could do, and I would enjoy waking up to that everyday. We'll see what opportunities arise and the situation my family is in."
One Game At A Time
Kuresa has high expectations for the 2006 BYU team. He is confident that fans will not be disappointed.
"I've noticed a greater focus, intensity and work ethic these past few months in Jake," said coach Jeff Grimes.
The BYU offense enters the season as one of the best in the country. For the first time in BYU history the O-line anchors an offense that has both a 3,000-yard passer and a 1,000-yard rusher returning from the previous season. Kuresa also represents the biggest O-line in the country, averaging 6-foot-4 and 326 pounds.
"I'm excited for this year, especially with the O-line that BYU has," Kuresa's father said. "The O-line is the key to it all and with guys like Eddie Keele, Dallas Reynolds, Ray Feinga and Jake, they're going to get the job done."
The Offseason
Kuresa kept himself busy during the 2006 offseason. In addition to working out
and preparing for the upcoming season he also worked BYU women's basketball
camps, took classes and made a trip to Bear Lake. In his free time he also
likes to play golf and go rabbit shooting.
"I like to keep myself sane," Jake said. "Fall camp is the worst three weeks of
the year but also the most beneficial. To keep me relaxed so I just don't think
about football I like to shoot rabbits with John Beck, Eddie Keele and Dallas
Reynolds."
This past offseason has been a special one that Jake will never forget. In May
he married Robyn Peterson.
"There are many proud moments being Jake's dad but seeing him get married in the
temple this past May is my most proud moment." Kuresa's father David said.
Kuresa still likes to go rabbit shooting and make trips to the lake but his new
and most enjoyable hobby is spending time with his wife.
"We just like to chill," Kuresa said. "We like renting movies and just hanging
out together. Being married to Robyn has been great."
Random Weights and Measures
John Borgia, OT, heaviest on 1984 team 6-3 288
'Mike Jenkins, BYU OT, 1990-91 6-8 370
Dave Kuresa, USU OG,1981-84, Jake's Dad 6-2 300
#Jake Kuresa, current BYU O-lineman 6-4 339
Brigham Young, Church Pres., 1847-1877 5-11 Unknown
+LeGrand "Grit" Young, BYU RB, 1957-59 6-0 195
*Steve Young, BYU QB 1980-83 6-1 198
*great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young
+father of Steve Young
#wears size 15 shoe, largest on this year's team
'wore size 18 shoe, largest in BYU history on display in Legacy Hall