Athlete of the Week: 10 Questions for JT Killeen, Highland Park Football

JT Killeen is a senior defensive end for the Giants who has recorded more than 10 tackles for loss in the last two games. This is his first year playing HPHS football. He is also a first baseman on the school’s baseball team

1. Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?

I like to eat chicken and rice before every game. This is my pre-game meal. And not much else. I just listen to some music before the game to get myself in the mood, but that’s about it.

2. What do you hope to do next year?

I’m really looking for a successful first year of college to experiment a bit. I have an older brother in college (Griffin Killeen, Indiana University), so follow his role and follow his advice. And I’ll see where this path takes me. Everything is really up in the air at the moment. I’m looking for places where I can do ROTC and complete four years of military training in college. I’m thinking about continuing on wherever I go, but mainly choosing ROTC. Then see what happens.

3. Why did you join the football program this year?

I knew I had to take some risks in my senior year. I knew I wanted to prepare for college, and a big step is trying new things. I wanted to play because I watched football. I’m a big Buffalo Bills fan. People have asked me to play before but I usually ignore it, but then my dad talked to me and it became a serious conversation. I wanted to be a multi-sport athlete; I knew that.

4. What were the biggest challenges in your first year?

It was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Everything is new for me here. I knew a few rules just from watching. After you play a few games and get the hang of it, there are things you don’t think about when playing football. The game is new for me. It’s a completely new way of thinking and attitude. Compared to many other sports, football is very demanding, so I knew I had to be tough. I rely a lot on my teammates. … Since it’s my first year, it’s more about getting the hang of it, getting some reps in and performing. In my opinion, it’s really just an attitude and mindset.

5. What is your favorite moment of the season so far?

According to ours first victorycelebrates with the team. I’ve never had so much excitement playing a sport. Even though this is my first year, it might be the most fun. Immediately after the game, everyone’s faces were full of excitement, joy and smiles. After Niles West’s win, there was a completely new attitude in the team.

6. What do you enjoy doing off the field?

I’m pretty excited about lifting. I train with my friends every day. I train with my father and his friends. Every morning at 5 a.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday and Sunday. The day starts well and I feel like I’ve accomplished something.

7. Who is your favorite athlete?

Football-wise, I would probably say Josh Allen (QB – Buffalo Bills). I’m a huge Bills fan. I like his attitude. Buffalo is a tough place to live, especially in the winter. Josh Allen has a tough mentality. Some other guys I look up to around the league are Maxx Crosby (DE – Oakland Raiders) and Aidan Hutchinson (DE – Detroit Lions). I like the way they play, but I have to mention Josh Allen.

8. When you go to Walgreens with a few dollars, what do you buy?

I’d say first I get an Arizona iced tea and a small bag of popcorn. You can never go wrong with a cold Arizona iced tea.

9. What don’t people know about you?

I would say that I look up to everyone around me, even though it might not come across. Even if you’re younger or older, I just look up to the people around me – coaches, teammates, friends, my little sister; I look up to my parents. I look up to everyone around me for their support and actions.

10. How would you like to end this season?

Firstly, of course I want to finish with a win. This season has been incredible for me. There were many ups and downs. My teammates were great. The offensive and defensive lines were outstanding. … I want to give them credit for our success. This season was just so much fun. By far the most fun I had in high school was playing football. I didn’t know many of the boys, but afterwards it feels like we were brothers. Everyone has a great attitude when they come to practice. We started 0-6, but the last two (wins) showed us what we can do as a team. It was great to try something new with guys I love. It was incredibly fun to play.

I would also like to thank the coaches for making me do this. With their guidance, they have helped me a lot inside and outside of football.

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