Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Montana State Wide Receiver’s Hard Work Leads to Captain’s Role
8/28/2018 6:07:00 PM | Football
Kevin Kassis enters his junior season looking to use his versatility to leave his mark on the Bobcat football program
Kevin Kassis enters his junior season looking to use his versatility to leave his mark on the Bobcat football program.
As a partial scholarship true freshman, Kassis outworked everyone to get himself in position to be on the field. Once he was on it, he had 514 all-purpose yards in 2016. That was good for 10th most in Bobcat football history among freshmen.
"I think bottom line, period, (he's) probably the hardest worker in our program," said Montana State head coach Jeff Choate. "He's a tremendously hard worker. There's no one in this program that out-works him he's highly-respected and a great teammate."
Kassis takes a lot of pride in his work ethic. That trademark has helped carry the El Dorado, Calif., native to where is today.
"I think it's something I established at a young age," said Kassis. "I like to work. I enjoy football, working out. Those kinds of things really aren't a hassle for myself. I enjoyed it and kind of had a chip on my shoulder. Growing up I wasn't always the biggest guy and what not, wasn't really heavily recruited, so that was just more motivation for myself."
That kind of work ethic ultimately ended up earning Kassis a full scholarship. Something he always dreamed of.
"It means a whole lot to me. I wasn't a full scholarship guy coming into MSU," Kassis said. "Finally earning that, it takes a burden off my family. It's kind of cool. I remember talking to coach Choate and tearing up about it. That's what I wanted so bad coming out of high school. It just didn't happen. It was kind of surreal when it finally happened."
It's been an eventful offseason for the Bobcats receivers group, with the graduation of two wide receivers, and senior Jabarri Johnson being sidelined due to injury going into the season. Kassis wanted to use this offseason as an opportunity to expand his role on the team. At the half way point of fall camp, Kassis was named one of three captains for MSU's football team.
"Not only cleaning up route running, but just from the leadership standpoint," Kassis said of his goals this past summer. "Having a guy like Mitch Herbert who was in our room and who did a good job of leading, (and with) unfortunately Jabari going down, there was a role that needed to be taken. I kind've saw it as an opportunity to increase my leadership."
It takes a special kind of student-athlete to play multiple positions at the Division I level. Kassis, who's now one of MSU's featured wide receivers, has experience playing running back, cornerback, returner and has thrown passes as a Bobcat. There are very few players around the country with that kind of versatility. One of the biggest challenges that comes up is simply being able to learn all of those positions during a short amount of time.
Kassis is a player who loves the ball in his hands.
"I kind of pride myself on being able to do a lot (with the ball) and a lot of different things (on the field)," Kassis said. "I love catching the ball and running the ball. But whenever I get an opportunity to throw the ball, I'm kind of a [quarter back] at heart so I love throwing it, but I love catching the ball too."
Being a quarterback at heart helps Kassis in his role as MSU's primary wide receiver this season.
Having that mentality of wanting the ball and the pressure that comes with it, is something that will aide Kassis' post football career. Majoring in business finance, Kassis has some determined post-grad aspirations.
"I wanted to find a major that will be open to things," Kassis said. "In the future, I'd like to maybe start my own business. Having a good background in finance and accounting is going to help out."
Having a versatile education goes hand in hand with how Kassis plays on the football field. Kassis has made the most of his time at Montana State so far and he has some lofty goals going into this season.
"I just want to contribute to the team," Kassis said. "Something we boil it down to as a team is simply, just win. I know the number, I've lost 13 games my first couple of years. That kind of motivates me even now. I just want to win and know how it feels to go to the playoffs. It's been since high school since I've been in that situation."
A tall task awaits the Bobcats in their 2018 season opener. Kassis and MSU hosts Western Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Bobcat Stadium.
As a partial scholarship true freshman, Kassis outworked everyone to get himself in position to be on the field. Once he was on it, he had 514 all-purpose yards in 2016. That was good for 10th most in Bobcat football history among freshmen.
"I think bottom line, period, (he's) probably the hardest worker in our program," said Montana State head coach Jeff Choate. "He's a tremendously hard worker. There's no one in this program that out-works him he's highly-respected and a great teammate."
Kassis takes a lot of pride in his work ethic. That trademark has helped carry the El Dorado, Calif., native to where is today.
"I think it's something I established at a young age," said Kassis. "I like to work. I enjoy football, working out. Those kinds of things really aren't a hassle for myself. I enjoyed it and kind of had a chip on my shoulder. Growing up I wasn't always the biggest guy and what not, wasn't really heavily recruited, so that was just more motivation for myself."
That kind of work ethic ultimately ended up earning Kassis a full scholarship. Something he always dreamed of.
"It means a whole lot to me. I wasn't a full scholarship guy coming into MSU," Kassis said. "Finally earning that, it takes a burden off my family. It's kind of cool. I remember talking to coach Choate and tearing up about it. That's what I wanted so bad coming out of high school. It just didn't happen. It was kind of surreal when it finally happened."
It's been an eventful offseason for the Bobcats receivers group, with the graduation of two wide receivers, and senior Jabarri Johnson being sidelined due to injury going into the season. Kassis wanted to use this offseason as an opportunity to expand his role on the team. At the half way point of fall camp, Kassis was named one of three captains for MSU's football team.
"Not only cleaning up route running, but just from the leadership standpoint," Kassis said of his goals this past summer. "Having a guy like Mitch Herbert who was in our room and who did a good job of leading, (and with) unfortunately Jabari going down, there was a role that needed to be taken. I kind've saw it as an opportunity to increase my leadership."
It takes a special kind of student-athlete to play multiple positions at the Division I level. Kassis, who's now one of MSU's featured wide receivers, has experience playing running back, cornerback, returner and has thrown passes as a Bobcat. There are very few players around the country with that kind of versatility. One of the biggest challenges that comes up is simply being able to learn all of those positions during a short amount of time.
Kassis is a player who loves the ball in his hands.
"I kind of pride myself on being able to do a lot (with the ball) and a lot of different things (on the field)," Kassis said. "I love catching the ball and running the ball. But whenever I get an opportunity to throw the ball, I'm kind of a [quarter back] at heart so I love throwing it, but I love catching the ball too."
Being a quarterback at heart helps Kassis in his role as MSU's primary wide receiver this season.
Having that mentality of wanting the ball and the pressure that comes with it, is something that will aide Kassis' post football career. Majoring in business finance, Kassis has some determined post-grad aspirations.
"I wanted to find a major that will be open to things," Kassis said. "In the future, I'd like to maybe start my own business. Having a good background in finance and accounting is going to help out."
Having a versatile education goes hand in hand with how Kassis plays on the football field. Kassis has made the most of his time at Montana State so far and he has some lofty goals going into this season.
"I just want to contribute to the team," Kassis said. "Something we boil it down to as a team is simply, just win. I know the number, I've lost 13 games my first couple of years. That kind of motivates me even now. I just want to win and know how it feels to go to the playoffs. It's been since high school since I've been in that situation."
A tall task awaits the Bobcats in their 2018 season opener. Kassis and MSU hosts Western Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Bobcat Stadium.
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