Athlete Spotlight: Jaxon Kraus #44

SPORTS: Football

Tell us your story. What life experiences have impacted your journey? What motivates you? What is your “why"?

Growing up in a football family. Immediately fell in love with the game. I think the main thing that motivates me is the drive to be the best linebacker in my class. To be a leader on and off the field. To play with my friends and teammates and give them everything I got to win games.

What role does your faith play in your life and in your sports career?

Knowing god is with me and everything happens for a reason. No matter what happens on and off the field god will show me the way.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If so, which one and why?

Proverbs 27:17

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Being part of a team and lifting each other up sharpens us as athletes 

What accomplishment are you most proud of personally and athletically (name one of each)?

All Region, All County, and was awarded the Tackling Fuel Award. Lots of great linebackers in the region so I am proud to have received those recognitions as a junior.

What do you feel sets you apart from your competition and what skills do you currently possess that are your biggest assets?

I think my work ethic. Putting in extra work on top of what the team does especially in the weight room.

Think biggest assets are my vision to diagnose and read plays. Then finishing them with violence and being a good tackler.

What skills are you most focused on improving?

Speed and strength. Always working on getting faster and stronger.

Tell us what a typical day or week is like for you:

Typical day is wake up and eat big. Head to school and come home and eat again. Then hit a workout in the weight room and work on Plyos or speed. Then head to team workouts. After team workouts come home and eat a couple times before bed making sure to keep my protein and calories high. We are in the offseason so sleep and diet are big for me right now.

What are your plans for the future and what is your number one objective for the next year / season?

Next season I want to lead the region in tackles, be the regional defensive player of the year, and make all state honors. In the future I want to play in college.

What is the biggest challenge you see in achieving your upcoming goal or where could you use help?

Biggest challenge is we lost a really good and big senior class so we will be rebuilding as a team and will have a bunch of first time varsity players. So being a captain and stepping up as a leader to get my teammates ready is going to be big.

What words of advice do you have for younger athletes that are up and coming?

Work extremely hard to be the best version of yourself, the best teammate and do your job every play.

Who was your favorite player growing up or who's style of play do you most admire?

I always liked Patrick Willis and how he plays LB. Fast and physical.

What one question would you have for your favorite athlete if they were sitting here now?

What would be the one thing they would of done more of at my age to be better on the field?