Collegiate Football- The Freshman Experience- Jake Elliott

Get To Know Our Freshman Collegiate Specialists

Over the next few weeks, we will be doing a little segment of interviews with some of the athletes we have helped along the way that are freshmen this year and playing college football this fall season. 

In our fourth installment we interview Jake Elliott, who is currently at Memphis University. He is their starting kicker and having a great year so far.

Jake Elliott

A short and sweet interview:
1. Name of your School: University if Memphis

2. What high school did you attend?  Lyons Township High School (IL) 

3. The very first collegiate football practice, I felt… I was very nervous and wasn't sure what was going on half the time. It was much more organized as far as being on a time schedule. It takes some getting used to as far as knowing where to be when.

4. Athletic Status (True Freshman or Redshirt): True freshman

5. If not Red Shirted, have you had a chance to play in a game yet?  I have started every game so far on field goals and kickoffs.

Jake kicking off for Memphis University as a Freshman.

6. Biggest memory/moment so far your freshman year?  I've had a few of them.  Making a touchdown saving tackle on kickoff.  Recently, it is tying the school record with 5 field goals in one game and also having 3 tackles the same game.

7. The 2 biggest differences between high school and college football:  The amount of pressure on you to execute because of the stadium size and the number of people relying on you.

8. What did you work on most prior to the start of your college year?  Directional kickoffs because nothing is a guaranteed touch back unless it's kicked over 75 yards every time.

9. Best advice you received to prepare you for collegiate football:  Stick with what you know and kick within yourself. You are plenty good to be here, if you weren't you wouldn't be here.

Jake after a game winner in high school.

10. Most memorable moment as a high school athlete.  Kicking a game winning field goal from 52 yards on homecoming.

11. 2 Biggest Role Models:  My dad and high school tennis coach.

12. Three songs you need to listen to before each game:  I change the music every game.

13. Do you have a hidden talent, if so, what is it?  Tennis is actually probably my best sport.

Jake kicking a field goal in high school

Wishing you continued success the rest of the season.

Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy
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Week 7- Special Teams Players of the Week

In week 7 of the High School Football Season, we have our 2nd Co-Special Teams Players of the Week.  Reid Taubenheim was on FIRE and earned the honors again with a big performance.  He went 5 for 5 on PATs and 2 for 2 on Field Goals. His distances were 20 and 42 yards.  He kicked 4 of his 7 Kickoffs for touchbacks for 11 points on the night.  He even had an interception for his team  Congrats Reid!

Reid Taubenheim Kicking Off

Our other Co- Player of the week was Brennan Lafeber of Hill Murray.  He had almost equally impressive kicking numbers as Reid.  He went 5 for 5 on PATs and 2 for 2 on Field Goals of 28 & 25 yards, scoring 11 points.  Congrats to the both of you.  Keep up the good work and good luck the rest of the season!

Hill-Murray quarterback Zach LaValle (11) congratulates kicker Brennan Lafeber after one of his two field goals and three extra points in the Pioneers' 27-7 victory over North St. Paul at Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood on Friday. (Photo Special to Pioneer Press: Chris Kelleher from www.twincities.com)

Honorable Mention Specialists

1. Jake Elliott- Lyons Township High School (IL)- 2 for 2 PATs, 2 for 2 FGs (40 & 38 yards)- 8 points
2. Stephen Yaffe- Carrollwood Day School (MN)- Freshman-  8 for 8 PAT- School Record- 8 points
3. Zach Wright- Blaine- 5 for 5 PATs and 1 for 1 FGs (32 yards)- 8 points
4. Eric Tusa- Prior Lake- 2 for 3 PATs and 2 for 3 on FGs (34 & 38 yards)- 8 points
5. Ryan Weinmann- Irondale- 8 for 10 on PATs- 8 points

Notable Performances & Recognition

1. Alex Dequaine (St Francis) & Nate Seward (Orono)-  It's often times tough to find great long snappers in high school, but both Alex and Nate snapped perfectly for their team's big wins!

Nate Seward snapping for Orono

Thank you.

Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy
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Week 5- Special Teams Player of the Week

At the midway point in the high school football season, we are starting to see a few kicker's names surface with repeat big kicking performances.  Jake Elliott of Lyons Township HS in IL and Reid Taubenheim of Farmington HS in MN, both had big games for their teams.  For the first time this year, we have a Co-Prep Athlete Special Teams Player of the Week.

Jake Elliott was a big contributor in their game, but unfortunately they ended up in a 1 point loss to Oak Park HS.  Jake kicked 4 field goals from 46, 46, 24, 31 yards and also going 2 for 2 on pats.  To top that off he kicked 5 of his 7 kickoffs for touchbacks.

Here in Minnesota Reid Taubenheim of Farmington High School, had a big kicking game as well contributing 9 points to his team's 27 points. Farmington was 4-0 and playing rival Chaska 3-1.  He went 3 for 3 on PATs and 2 for 2 on Field Goal of 26 and 41 yards!  This win brought their team to 5-0 and a #4 State Rank in Class 5A.

Nice work to both of you!

Honorable Mention Specialists 

1. Augustine Ajaluwa- DeLaSalle- 6 for 7 on PATs and 1 for 1 on Field Goals (40 yards)- 9 points
2. Bobby Rukavina- Holy Angels- 8 for 9 on PATs- 8 points
3. Noah Wiggins- Fridley- 2 for 3 on PATS and 2 for 2 on Field Goals (38 & 22 yards)- 8 points
4. Zach Wright- Blaine- 8 for 8 on PATs- 8 points
5. Wyatt Schmidt- St Thomas Academy- 1 for 1 PATs and 2 for 2 on Field Goals (35 & 38 yards)- 7 points

Congrats to everyone who had a great kicking performance.

-Coach Chris Husby
Website: Special Teams Football Academy

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Week 2- Special Teams Player of the Week

In Week 2 of High School Football, we saw another batch of great performances by a number of  specialists.  Our week 2 Prep Athlete Special Teams Player of the Week hails from Lyons Township HS (IL), Jake Elliott.   He had a big day for his team kicking 7 for 7 on PATS and also going 1 for 3 on FGs (27 yards) and scoring 10 points for his team.

Honorable Mention

1. Alex MacGregor- Zimmerman HS (MN)- Jr- 7 for 8 PATs-7 points
2. Jon Coppens**- Holy Family HS (MN)- Soph- 3 for 5 PATs & 1 for 1 FGs (37 yards)- 6 points
3. Patrick Lecorre- Edina HS (MN)- Soph- 2 for 2 FGs (34 & 31 yards)- 6 points

**Jon Coppen's 37 yard field broke the school record for longest varsity Field Goal at Holy Family

Punter of the Week

1. Austn Moon- Moorhead HS (MN)- 54 yard punt average.

Honorable Mention

1. Brock Skow- John F Kennedy HS (Montreal)- 5 punts for a 51 yard ave with 1 punt I-20 

Thank you.

Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy
Join our Facebook Fan Page!
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CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660