Interview: 3-Star 2021 California RB Calvin Kim is Preparing for Breakout Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The tough part about football are the injuries. At any time, and to the best of players, an unfortunate blow can be dealt halting a promising season. That happened in Week 1 of the 2019 schedule to Calvin Kim. The Palos Verdes Peninsula High School standout was ready to further showcase his skills out of the backfield but a knee injury (ACL and meniscus) stopped what was promising to be a breakout year. On the plus side, the 5-11, 205-pound, play-maker is back on the field going through drills and pushing his game beyond where he left it in 2019.
Everything else associated with the recruiting process is going Kim’s way. The three-star recruit has offers from Coastal Carolina, Tennessee-Martin, and William & Mary, and is a high achiever in the classroom sporting a 4.4 GPA with a 1520 posted on the SAT.
In an RNG catch-up interview, Kim took some time to update me on his offseason workouts, rehab, and upcoming college visits.
Interview
Calvin, what have you been working on with your game this offseason?
“Trying to get healthier. After my knee injury and recovery, I have been able to fine-tune and focus on areas that I have not focused on before. I’ve been working on my glutes and hamstrings making them stronger to be more explosive. I am working on my flexibility to minimize my injuries and to be health for the full season. I’ve been working on getting stronger and faster. I’ve been focused on rehab, now I am focused on football specific drills.”
How did your rehab go? Where are you at with everything now?
“It went really well. The PT says I am 90 percent there. I can sprint and jog without any issues; I have started to cut. I am doing ball drills; that feels fine. I expect to be stronger and faster than last year. All is going great.”
Looking ahead, what style of offense will the Panthers run in 2020?
“We run a multiple style of offense. We game plan against the team we are playing. We are an old school running offense but do it out of the spread. We game plan based on the team we are playing. If we can run 40 times, we will do it. If we can pass it 40 times, we will.”
How will your skills be utilized within the scheme?
“I will be the primary ball carrier this season. I expect to carry the ball 20 to 30 times a game and also catch passes out of the backfield.”
Are there any other positions you may play this season?
“Mostly I will just be at running back, but in some sets, I go out as a slot receiver.”
That’ll be great to show your versatility. As things pick back up for you on the field, which schools are showing interest ready to see you in action this year?
“Lehigh, UPenn, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Duke, and Fordham.”
How many offers are on the table for you?
“Three.”
Once things get going again, are there any visits you plan on taking?
“I was supposed to go to Yale and Princeton this weekend, but all of that was shut down. I am supposed to go to Brown in April, but I am not sure if that is cancelled yet.”
Understood. Calvin, it was great catching up with you today. I appreciate you updating me on your comeback and wish you further success with your training.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Thea Sanderson; Calvin Kim