Interview with Overland Park St. Thomas Aquinas OL Tom Killilea

Written by Charlie Beuttel

St. Thomas Aquinas did not know what to expect going into the 2014 season. The Saints had suffered through a 3-7 season in 2013 and just hired Coach Randy Dreiling as their new head coach. Coach Dreiling came in and led the team to an 8-4 record and a trip to the Kansas 5A State Championship Game. Unfortunately, St. Thomas Aquinas came up short against Bishop Carroll and lost 39-7.

The expectations are even higher going into the 2015 season for the Saints. They are returning the majority of last year’s team including nine offensive starters. One big strength of the Saints is their offensive line. Four starters return from last year including Tom Killilea at right tackle.

The 6’6″, 270 pound, big man moves in space well and loves to hit his opponents. The Class of 2016 recruit has received interest from quite a few schools including Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas, Nebraska and New Mexico.

In an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview I sat down with the talented offensive lineman to talk about his high school career at St. Thomas Aquinas and his recruiting process going into his senior season.

Interview
Tom, first off, congratulations on a great season and making it all the way to the state championship game last season. What are your thoughts on the 2014 season?

“I thought we had a good season. It was our first year with our new coach, Coach Dreiling, and we brought it right away. We all got moving in the right direction. It wasn’t a perfect season if it was perfect we would have won state.”

What your thoughts on your individual performance in 2014?

“I thought I had a good season. I definitely made some big leaps. It was a big improvement from my sophomore year to my junior year. It was definitely a good year but not near as good as I can be.”

Did you receive any individual honors last year?

“Second-team All-League.”

What is one thing that you can take away from last season that can motivate you going into 2015?

“Number one was in our ninth game, we were playing Pittsburg and they ran all over us. They beat us on our home field to qualify for the playoffs and their fans stormed our field. That’s one game I circled in red on this year’s schedule. Number two was losing in the state championship game. It felt incredible to be there and losing felt terrible.”

What are your strengths on the field?

“My biggest strength are my teammates. If you don’t have great teammates everything you do won’t matter. I think I have great teammates on our offensive line including Zach Pfiefer at right guard, our center Jake Barr, Andrew Gilroy at left guard, and Blake Henning and Steven Rohde who are battling at left tackle. Also my vision is a big strength of mine.”

Have you been to any camps this summer?

“I did. I went to Nebraska on June 12th and an Arkansas camp on June 20th.”

Have you received any interest from any schools?

“I have nine offers and six are Division-I schools. I have offers from South Dakota, South Dakota State, North Mexico, Colgate, Cornell, and Southeast Missouri State. Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas, and Indiana are showing interest.”

Have you made any visits?

“I made a ton of visits including North Dakota State and Northern Iowa. Arkansas was a great visit. It’s an incredible place. Western Michigan was a fun visit because I was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan.”

What kind of feedback are you receiving from coaches at these schools?

“Nebraska told me I helped my stock after their camp. Arkansas told me I had a good camp there.”

What are you working on the most this offseason?

“I’m mostly trying to work on my strength and its getting better. I’m a weak 6’6″, 270. The work will be paying off for me soon.”

What is your max bench press and your squat max?

“My bench max is 260 and my squat max is 365.”

Looking ahead to the 2015 schedule, what game are you most looking forward to playing?

“Pittsburg and Mill Valley. Mill Valley has a state champion caliber team and we think we have one too. It will be on TV. We went there and won last year. It’s our opening game and a win will start the year off well.”
Do you have any goals going into 2015?

“My number one goal is winning the state championship. I’d like to get first-team All-State and All-League. Also I would like some more offers but first and foremost I want a state championship ring on my finger.”

How does St. Thomas Aquinas look going into the season?

“I think we are definitely one of the best teams in Kansas. Our star running backs James Cosentino, Jacob Leikam, and Sam Ramaekers are all coming back. Our quarterback, Karter Odermann, is also coming back. Our backfield is incredible. I think we have the best offensive linemen in the state. Our whole team buys into what the coaches say. We are going to have a very good year.”

What do you like most about playing football?

“My favorite thing is just the unity. My best friends play football with me. I would go 0-9 with this team because we are a family. We are all very close. Also the hitting is awesome.”

Who has had the biggest impact on your football career?

“My head coach, Coach Dreiling. Before he came I wasn’t special and he came in and changed my mindset about football. I wasn’t a hitter before he came in and now I love to hit people. Also my uncle, Chris Killilea, who played at Butler University in Indiana. He was a smart and hard working football player. He’s always talking to me about football.”

Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; Tom Killilea at an Arkansas Razorback camp.
Photo credit: scout.com; No. 51 Tom Killilea in action.