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University of Minnesota Athletics
Kirkwood Wiser as Fifth-Year Senior
9/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2014
According to cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, the senior running back "claims that a defensive back has never hit him 1-on-1 in the hole," while Boddy-Calhoun contends he did just that during a fall practice. Defensive lineman Harold Legania said he and Kirkwood spent hours arguing about which NFL team drafted Mark Ingram, even continuing after Legania looked it up.
"He's like a grandpa," Legania said. "What he says goes."
The length of Kirkwood's college career, as he enters his fifth year, might also make him seem like a grandpa to some of his younger teammates. Yes, they do tease him about it.
"I go along with it and call them young bucks, and say 'Back in my day…'" Kirkwood said.
Aside from good-natured teasing, like a grandpa, Kirkwood also has his teammates' respect. Boddy-Calhoun considers him one of the hardest workers he has ever known, along with being one of the hardest to tackle.
"That's not a guy you want to be in front of when he has a full head of steam," he said. "You learn all the proper ways to tackle, but when you have a guy like that running at you, there is no proper way to tackle him."
Kirkwood proved tough to bring down during the 2012 season, when he racked up 926 rushing yards and six touchdowns, helping the Gophers to their first bowl game since 2009. He started 2013 as No. 1 on the depth chart, but suffered an injury in the first game. Rodrick Williams and then David Cobb filled the starting spot the rest of the year while Kirkwood played a reserve role after returning to action.
"It's a very long season, and Coach Kill preaches that all the time," Kirkwood said. "You'll never think he's talking to you. 'You need depth.' Being a starting running back, you think, 'Wow, he's not talking to me. I'm not going to be hurt. It wouldn't happen to me.'
"It's very frustrating to come off a good year and think you're going to have another one, and something like that happens. Coach Kill always talks about, 'This is a privilege to play the game.'"
Kirkwood said that hearing guest speakers at practice and volunteering with HopeKids, an organization that provides encouragement for kids with serious illnesses, helped him gain perspective: "An injury isn't anything compared to what these kids go through." He believes that everything happens for a reason, so he takes adversity in stride and appreciates what he has.
"He's not only become a leader, he's grown up a lot," Legania said. "When we came in, he was always known to be a loud person and really confident. Now, he's still confident, and he also leads by example. He's gotten really mature."
Challenging experiences have shaped this older version of Kirkwood - a coaching change after his first year, multiple injuries and constant competition for playing time. He has seen enough in his career to offer younger players some grandfatherly advice.
Kirkwood said that as he has matured as a football player, his running style has changed. He used to just charge straight into defenders. Now, when he can, he uses the space he has to make an extra move. But Kirkwood, ever the power runner, still likes contact. He's not that old yet.
It doesn't matter what the topic is. Donnell Kirkwood will argue with you about it.
According to cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, the senior running back "claims that a defensive back has never hit him 1-on-1 in the hole," while Boddy-Calhoun contends he did just that during a fall practice. Defensive lineman Harold Legania said he and Kirkwood spent hours arguing about which NFL team drafted Mark Ingram, even continuing after Legania looked it up.
"He's like a grandpa," Legania said. "What he says goes."
The length of Kirkwood's college career, as he enters his fifth year, might also make him seem like a grandpa to some of his younger teammates. Yes, they do tease him about it.
"I go along with it and call them young bucks, and say 'Back in my day…'" Kirkwood said.
Aside from good-natured teasing, like a grandpa, Kirkwood also has his teammates' respect. Boddy-Calhoun considers him one of the hardest workers he has ever known, along with being one of the hardest to tackle.
"That's not a guy you want to be in front of when he has a full head of steam," he said. "You learn all the proper ways to tackle, but when you have a guy like that running at you, there is no proper way to tackle him."
Kirkwood proved tough to bring down during the 2012 season, when he racked up 926 rushing yards and six touchdowns, helping the Gophers to their first bowl game since 2009. He started 2013 as No. 1 on the depth chart, but suffered an injury in the first game. Rodrick Williams and then David Cobb filled the starting spot the rest of the year while Kirkwood played a reserve role after returning to action.
"It's a very long season, and Coach Kill preaches that all the time," Kirkwood said. "You'll never think he's talking to you. 'You need depth.' Being a starting running back, you think, 'Wow, he's not talking to me. I'm not going to be hurt. It wouldn't happen to me.'
"It's very frustrating to come off a good year and think you're going to have another one, and something like that happens. Coach Kill always talks about, 'This is a privilege to play the game.'"
Kirkwood said that hearing guest speakers at practice and volunteering with HopeKids, an organization that provides encouragement for kids with serious illnesses, helped him gain perspective: "An injury isn't anything compared to what these kids go through." He believes that everything happens for a reason, so he takes adversity in stride and appreciates what he has.
"He's not only become a leader, he's grown up a lot," Legania said. "When we came in, he was always known to be a loud person and really confident. Now, he's still confident, and he also leads by example. He's gotten really mature."
Challenging experiences have shaped this older version of Kirkwood - a coaching change after his first year, multiple injuries and constant competition for playing time. He has seen enough in his career to offer younger players some grandfatherly advice.
"Take care of your body," he said. "Listen to Coach Kill. Get the rest that you're supposed to get. Eat right. Drink a lot of water. And then just do what you're supposed to. That's the main rule. If you do what you're supposed to and you work hard, things will happen that are supposed to happen. It might not happen how you want it to happen, but everything has a reason. You might not be meant to be the best player here, but maybe you're meant to be the best person to someone on the staff or someone in this community. Sometimes that's all it needs to be."
Whatever the Gophers need Kirkwood to be, he will be. He knows from experience that things can change quickly, so he works to stay ready.
Kirkwood said that as he has matured as a football player, his running style has changed. He used to just charge straight into defenders. Now, when he can, he uses the space he has to make an extra move. But Kirkwood, ever the power runner, still likes contact. He's not that old yet.
Players Mentioned
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Running Back
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Running Back
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Defensive Line
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