Andrew Kamienski
Wide Receiver / North Central College
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Andrew Kamienski: I am 5’11 and 192 pounds right now.
Alex Khvatov: How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Andrew Kamienski: Our strength and conditioning coach put out a workout plan for us. I do a lot of band workouts and stretching. I have been running and working on my endurance. My neighbor has a weight set. I go to his garage when he is there.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Andrew Kamienski: I played basketball up until my sophomore year of high school.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
Andrew Kamienski: I was a receiver and a strong safety. I also returned punts and kicks.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Andrew Kamienski: My freshman year on varsity, I got hurt. I was a three-year varsity starter. I was not a highly recruited guy. I had no stars. I received a 75% scholarship from Winona State in Minnesota. It is a D-II school. Once I got there, I felt like I didn’t fit in. I wasn’t comfortable playing football there. I wasn’t happy. I stuck it out for a semester, but I was miserable every day.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at North Central College?
Andrew Kamienski: At my high school, we would do overnight summer camps at North Central College. Coach Spencer recruited me since my junior year of high school. I knew the QB Broc Rutter and the talent he had. He was there already, and I felt comfortable. They cared about you as a person. I felt like I could grow as a man. It is a very organized program.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your overall career.
Andrew Kamienski: During my freshman year, I got hurt the first day of camp. I didn’t play until the second game of the season. I played well. I worked my way into a starting role. Our number one receiver went down. They gave me a chance to step up for a young offensive team. I was a first team all-conference and third team all-region. Sophomore year, I had no preseason awards. I earned first team all-conference and second team all-region at the end of the season. Last year, I was third team preseason All-American. At the end of the year, I earned first team All-American and first team all-conference. I had 31 TD catches. I hold the record for most TD receptions in a season in D-III. I also had 2,016 receiving yards and 133 catches, which was second most in D-III last year.
Alex Khvatov: How proud are you of the accolades that you have received this past season?
Andrew Kamienski: I am very proud. It is an honor to see my hard work pay off. It is a credit to the O-line, my OC and my head coach. It is a team sport. Without them, I wouldn’t get anything going. They made my job easy. Receivers just have to get open. I also have to hand it to my QB. He gave me the ball in the right spots.
Alex Khvatov: You set a new record in Division III with 31 touchdowns in 2019. How were you able to accomplish that feat?
Andrew Kamienski: For me, it was film study and having a bond with my QB outside of football. It is a special connection. He knew where I would be and he threw it to me. I have a friendship with him. We believed in each other. I always study my opponents and what they do in certain coverages. I am always working on the little things. My QB Broc Rutter won the Gagliardi Trophy last season. He just signed with the 49ers. I played with him on seven on seven teams in high school. We also played in the same conference in high school. We have been friends since my freshman year of high school.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about winning the D-III championship this past season.
Andrew Kamienski: It was an unbelievable experience. We played two days after the Hurricane. We had to fly out two days prior to Washington DC and then drive to Virginia. We lost to Wheaton the fourth game of the season. We were the last team in the playoffs. We didn’t overlook anybody. The second round matchup with Mount Union was incredible. We knew it would be a shootout and we had to score points. We won 59-52. Once we beat them, it gave us even more confidence. We just had to play our game and limit our mistakes. We played together and believed in one another. I enjoyed every second of it. We played and beat Wisconsin-Whitewater in the championship game in Shenandoah, Texas.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from your team this upcoming season?
Andrew Kamienski: Hit the ground running and defend our national championship. We have 16 out of 22 starters back. We have to find a QB.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Andrew Kamienski: I am a quick and physical receiver. I work the middle of the field. I am a possession guy. They put me in the slot like Julian Edelman. My hands. I catch a lot of balls every day.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Andrew Kamienski: I need to work on my top-end speed. I need to work on the out breaking routes, deep outs and comebacks. I also have to get more physical in the blocking game.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Andrew Kamienski: The Mount Union playoff game. They are a great team. It was a big win for us. I had 256 yards and four TD’s in that second round playoff game. I also had a TD catch before halftime versus Illinois Wesleyan. I made it into the top 10 plays on SportsCenter.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Andrew Kamienski: The biggest thing is to have confidence in yourself and respond with positivity. Learn and trust the guy in front of you. Do your 1/11 and trust your other 10 teammates.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Andrew Kamienski: The Rams. I rooted for them when they were still in St. Louis. I was young. I watched Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Andrew Kamienski: Right now, it is Tyreek Hill or Michael Thomas. Deion Sanders was my all-time favorite player. I was a big Florida State fan.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Andrew Kamienski: Our RB Ethan Greenfield is an unbelievable player. He will be a junior. Our DB Jake Beesley is good and LG Sharmore Clarke.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Andrew Kamienski: The best player this past year was Corey Kennedy. He was a safety from Wheaton College. He had the best jam at the line and hit hard. I played seven on seven with him.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a WR?
Andrew Kamienski: The number one trait is you need to have awareness and read coverage well. You have to know what the player will do in certain coverage. They move me around. I am primarily the Z receiver. I play in the slot. Usually the Y receiver is the slot. But in our offense, X and Y are outside receivers, and the Z receiver is in the slot. Our offense is so different.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Andrew Kamienski: The brotherhood and the relationships. Having the trust along the way. It is unconditional brotherhood. We are fighting for the same goal.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Andrew Kamienski: I spend time with my dog, hang out with my girlfriend and friends. I like to go fishing. I am a big family guy.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Andrew Kamienski: My major is in small business management and entrepreneurship. Eventually, I want to buy and sell houses. I want to be a contractor. Maybe coaching. I know that I can’t sit behind a desk.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Andrew Kamienski: I am a selfless person. Everyone else comes first. I learned that from both of my parents. I am very kind-hearted. I also have a twin brother. He is two minutes older than me.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Andrew Kamienski: Hardworking, loyal, honest, competitive, and poised.
