Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Senior Profile: Van Ackeren’s best yet to come
8/23/2015 9:31:00 PM | Football
Van Ackeren's best yet to come
Kendrick Van Ackeren is enjoying the last days of a successful fall camp as the Montana football squad gets set for the much anticipated home opener against NDSU.
The senior linebacker has earned about as many preseason accolades and awards as possible in FCS football this season.
He's been recognized nationally as one of the top 100 players in the nation with a spot on the STATS FCS preseason All-America third team, and with a spot on the College Sports Madness.com first team All-Conference squad.
Regionally, Montana's peers in the Big Sky Conference placed the Hawaii transfer on the preseason All-Conference team, one of four Grizzlies to make the list.
Such accolades are hard to come by, so when they started pouring in, it made the senior think.
"I was excited. I was definitely excited," said Ackeren on his preseason awards. "You don't really know how to accept them very well. But at the same time, it's a motivator, definitely, because it gives you these expectations that everybody is putting on you, and you have to take those and make the best of them. That's really how I look at them. I look at them as more motivation to do better this season than I did last season."
Van Ackeren (6'1", 220, Bellevue, Wash.) returns to the Griz linebacker corps as the conference's 12th-best tackler last season, averaging 8.7 per game with a total of 122.
In 2014, his three fumble recoveries led the team and tied for sixth nationally. His numbers helped Montana lead the Big Sky and tie for 19th nationally in scoring defense (21.0 ppg).
These accolades are impressive, but for "Kenny", not good enough. For him the will to win doesn't just reside on the football field. Like so many student athletes, the will to win translates into the classroom as well.
Earning a bachelors degree at the University of Montana requires 120 credits. Van Ackeren is taking his education one step further, and earning a dual degree in Finance and Management, a task that requires 150 or more credits.
Carrying a pocket full of awards for his work, and staring down the completion of a dual degree, Van Ackeren is hoping to see the fruits of his labor as the season kickoff draws near.
"I just want to be great… for my team, and for Montana," he adds. "I just want to do every thing I can to help my team win. So my expectations for myself are to just give my all every play and make sure I do everything I can on and off the field to help my team win."
Van Ackeren and the Griz open the season on Saturday, when the linebacker with ambitions on the field and off, is likely to make a starting appearance.
The Montana vs. North Dakota State game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and is airing nationally on ESPN.
FAVORITE FOOD?
Shrimp.
FAVORITE CLASS?
Strategic Venture Management.
FAVORITE BOOK?
Bud not Buddy.
FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Nashville.
FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUP?
Tupac, Shaggy, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, The Temptations.
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Fox and The Hound.
IF A MOVIE WERE MADE OF MY LIFE, I'D WANT THIS ACTOR TO PLAY ME:
Will Smith.
THE PERSON IN HISTORY I'D MOST LIKE TO MEET?
Malcolm X.
FAVORITE SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL?
Basketball.
FAVORITE SPORTS FIGURE?
Walter Payton.
FAVORITE NFL TEAM?
Seahawks.
HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS?
Poetry.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME:
This is my 17th season playing football.
ONE OF MY HIDDEN TALENTS IS:
Elmo Voice.
THE BIGGEST "CHARACTER" ON THE TEAM IS:
Joey Counts.
WHY?
Words cannot explain.
MY GREATEST MOMENT IS SPORTS SO FAR IS:
Every time I get the chance to play the game I love.
IF I WEREN'T PLAYING FOR THE GRIZ, I'D BE:
Someone else.
THE THING(S) I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA IS:
Griz Burrito.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE UM COACHES:
They care about their players on and off the field.
THE REASON I CHOSE TO BE A GRIZ:
No better family to be a part of.
WHY I CHOSE MY MAJOR:
So I understand how to manage money and help people not waste theirs.
MY PLAN AFTER I GRADUATE IS:
Life
MY FUTURE GOALS ARE:
Enjoy the life I live.
Kendrick Van Ackeren is enjoying the last days of a successful fall camp as the Montana football squad gets set for the much anticipated home opener against NDSU.
The senior linebacker has earned about as many preseason accolades and awards as possible in FCS football this season.
He's been recognized nationally as one of the top 100 players in the nation with a spot on the STATS FCS preseason All-America third team, and with a spot on the College Sports Madness.com first team All-Conference squad.
Regionally, Montana's peers in the Big Sky Conference placed the Hawaii transfer on the preseason All-Conference team, one of four Grizzlies to make the list.
Such accolades are hard to come by, so when they started pouring in, it made the senior think.
"I was excited. I was definitely excited," said Ackeren on his preseason awards. "You don't really know how to accept them very well. But at the same time, it's a motivator, definitely, because it gives you these expectations that everybody is putting on you, and you have to take those and make the best of them. That's really how I look at them. I look at them as more motivation to do better this season than I did last season."
Van Ackeren (6'1", 220, Bellevue, Wash.) returns to the Griz linebacker corps as the conference's 12th-best tackler last season, averaging 8.7 per game with a total of 122.
In 2014, his three fumble recoveries led the team and tied for sixth nationally. His numbers helped Montana lead the Big Sky and tie for 19th nationally in scoring defense (21.0 ppg).
These accolades are impressive, but for "Kenny", not good enough. For him the will to win doesn't just reside on the football field. Like so many student athletes, the will to win translates into the classroom as well.
Earning a bachelors degree at the University of Montana requires 120 credits. Van Ackeren is taking his education one step further, and earning a dual degree in Finance and Management, a task that requires 150 or more credits.
Carrying a pocket full of awards for his work, and staring down the completion of a dual degree, Van Ackeren is hoping to see the fruits of his labor as the season kickoff draws near.
"I just want to be great… for my team, and for Montana," he adds. "I just want to do every thing I can to help my team win. So my expectations for myself are to just give my all every play and make sure I do everything I can on and off the field to help my team win."
Van Ackeren and the Griz open the season on Saturday, when the linebacker with ambitions on the field and off, is likely to make a starting appearance.
The Montana vs. North Dakota State game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and is airing nationally on ESPN.
FAVORITE FOOD?
Shrimp.
FAVORITE CLASS?
Strategic Venture Management.
FAVORITE BOOK?
Bud not Buddy.
FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Nashville.
FAVORITE MUSICAL GROUP?
Tupac, Shaggy, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, The Temptations.
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Fox and The Hound.
IF A MOVIE WERE MADE OF MY LIFE, I'D WANT THIS ACTOR TO PLAY ME:
Will Smith.
THE PERSON IN HISTORY I'D MOST LIKE TO MEET?
Malcolm X.
FAVORITE SPORTS OTHER THAN FOOTBALL?
Basketball.
FAVORITE SPORTS FIGURE?
Walter Payton.
FAVORITE NFL TEAM?
Seahawks.
HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS?
Poetry.
MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS ABOUT ME:
This is my 17th season playing football.
ONE OF MY HIDDEN TALENTS IS:
Elmo Voice.
THE BIGGEST "CHARACTER" ON THE TEAM IS:
Joey Counts.
WHY?
Words cannot explain.
MY GREATEST MOMENT IS SPORTS SO FAR IS:
Every time I get the chance to play the game I love.
IF I WEREN'T PLAYING FOR THE GRIZ, I'D BE:
Someone else.
THE THING(S) I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA IS:
Griz Burrito.
MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THE UM COACHES:
They care about their players on and off the field.
THE REASON I CHOSE TO BE A GRIZ:
No better family to be a part of.
WHY I CHOSE MY MAJOR:
So I understand how to manage money and help people not waste theirs.
MY PLAN AFTER I GRADUATE IS:
Life
MY FUTURE GOALS ARE:
Enjoy the life I live.
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LB
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