Aug. 15, 2008

Note - The Patriot League is profiling one student-athlete from each of the seven football-playing institutions ahead of the 2008 season. The interviews were conducted at the 2008 Patriot League Football Media Day on July 31. Stories will be released in alphabetical order by school.

Bucknell's Kizekai a Triple Threat
By Matt Dougherty, Patriot League Media Relations Director

Opponents know they have to stop Bucknell junior running back A.J. Kizekai this season. The trick is, they have to figure out a way to do it in three different areas.

A First-Team All-Patriot League selection as a return specialist in 2007, Kizekai finished second in the League and 13th in the country with 173.5 all-purpose yards per game while putting up impressive totals rushing, receiving and returning kicks. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry while notching 432 rushing yards for the year, caught 17 passes for 363 yards, and led the Patriot League with an average of 25.9 yards per kick return with 43 returns for a League record 1,113 yards. Kizekai was the first Bison player since 1980 to lead the team in rushing and receiving.

Kizekai has the ability to change the game with three different skills, but which one suits him best?

"I think I'm best at kick returning and receiving out of the backfield," Kizekai said. "Anytime I can get out in open space and use my speed to my advantage."

The Pawtucket, Rhode Island native did just that throughout the 2007 season, making big plays and scoring at least one touchdown of over 80 yards in all three areas. He was at his best in League play, becoming the first player in Bucknell history to score rushing (5 yards), receiving (19 yards) and kickoff return (92 yards) touchdowns in the same game in the Bison's 28-24 loss to Colgate on Oct. 6. Kizekai scored an 80-yard rushing touchdown in Bucknell's 45-21 loss to Holy Cross, and concluded the season on a high note by hauling in an 82-yard touchdown reception and notching another score on the ground to help Bucknell end a tough year with a 38-24 victory at Patriot League champion Fordham.

Now Kizekai wants the momentum from that victory to carry over into the 2008 campaign for the Bison.

"We hope the win over Fordham is something that can propel us for more to come this season," he said. "We had more people stay in the summer than ever and we think we can surprise a lot of people."

He added, "The competition is very tough in the Patriot League, and from week to week you know you are going to be in for a tough game."

In addition to his work with the football team, Kizekai tried another angle to prepare for the upcoming season and increase his speed. A 2006 indoor track state champion in the 55-meter dash at Blair (N.J.) Academy, Kizekai competed with Bucknell's indoor track team and showed he can still be just as successful in that area. Kizekai tied Bucknell's school record with a time of 7.01 in the 60-meter dash at the Patriot League Championship, and qualified for the finals of that event where he placed seventh. He also won the 55-meter dash at the Bucknell Winter Classic.

Kizekai believes the balancing act of competing in track and working out in preparation for football season will pay dividends in the fall.

"Track was a good experience, I did it all throughout high school and it was just a way to relax and have some fun," Kizekai said. "It helped a lot with my explosiveness getting out of the box. I ended up having no break, with track practice and football workouts in the spring. It was rough but beneficial and will help a lot this year."

With the track experience and two more years remaining in Lewisburg, Kizekai appears primed for even more game-breaking plays in the future.

For more on Kizekai, read Chris Brady's article in the Lewisburg (Pa.) Standard-Journal here