Episode #27
Episode 27: Stopping the Run with Kolten Gajewski
Football gets a lot easier to understand when you hear it from a team captain who actually lives in the trenches. Indiana State defensive lineman, Kolten Gajewski, breaks down the hidden mechanics of the game, from the quarterback-to-D-line transition that forced him to rebuild his body to the technique behind stopping the run. If you think football is just size and speed, this conversation changes that fast. Jenny and Beth dig into how Kolten went from a record-setting high school quarterback in a tiny Illinois town to a Division I defensive lineman, team captain, and future grad juggling football and school. You'll discover: Why playing quarterback helped Kolten read offenses from the defensive side What an RPO really is, and why it matters How defensive line rotations work and why fresh bodies are everything The difference between looking strong and playing with true pad level and leverage Why run defense is the part of the D-line most fans completely underestimate Beth and Jenny also get Kolten talking about his family football legacy, including his dad's Indiana State connection and the experience of playing alongside his brother, a linebacker. He explains what being voted one of just six team captains means inside a 105-man locker room, what coaches actually expect from leaders, and why big-money games against programs like Purdue are about more than just showing up for the paycheck. Kolten also opens up about the offseason grind, the weirdly specific obsession with uniforms and jersey numbers, the music that actually gets him fired up, and the kind of trash talk that hits hardest. If you love football, hidden details, and the kind of insights that make you watch the trenches differently, this episode is for you.
