Interview with a Small School Hero: Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State
Who is Jake Wieneke? If you are not from South Dakota you probably not aware of how amazing number 19 really is. Well let’s look at a few amazing stats from the 6’4 wide outs past.
Jake is the Jackrabbits career record holder in receiving touchdowns (43) and receiving yards (4,192). He enters 2017 season with 223 career receptions — two away from tying school record. Jake holds three of the top four single-season receiving yardage totals in program history and has posted three of the top six single-season totals for receptions.
He has recorded four of the top 10 single-game receiving yardage totals in program history, and also topped 100 yards receiving in a game 23 times entering 2016 season. Jake also caught a touchdown pass in 26 of 39 career games and has 13 multi-touchdown games. Listen folks, this kid is a draft pick. It is pretty simple to see. He is the best wide out in the FCS, and will be drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. I interviewed Jake and asked him some questions you may not know about him, or his team. Check it out:
What is your main goal going into your final season?
To win a National Championship.
As a small schooler, how are you planning to separate yourself from the other big school players?
Work as hard as I can everyday to be the best that I can be. I try not to worry about the things I can’t control, but something I can control is how hard I work everyday to be the best that I can be.
Who is the toughest player on the opposite side of the ball you have to face in practice?
Jordan Brown, he is a corner for us and he is a beast! He is a bigger corner and can do everything. He is smart, he can run with you, he can play physical, he is just an athlete. It’s always fun going against him in practice because you know that every rep will be a battle.
Who is the most underrated player on your team?
Jake Menage, all he does is work. Everything he does on and off the field is to get better. He is constantly growing as a football player and as a man. He is a leader on the team, even though he isn’t labeled as captain. Everybody on the team looks up to him and when he speaks, you listen. When he does something, you do that as well, because you know it is the right thing to do. He does so much for the team and the young guys that most people don’t notice.
What’s your best memory of college so far?
I have had a lot of great memories in college but my best was seeing our Coach Stig’s smile after we won the conference last year.
What is the most memorable play so far in your career?
Against NDSU we ran a trick play where we hid our running back Brady Mengarelli and we all ran the opposite way and he waited for a second and then ran into the end zone for a touchdown. It’s a play we practiced all year and when we finally ran it I couldn’t believe it.
What is the coolest thing you ever did off the field for someone else?
I was blessed to lead a youth group at a local church over the past two years. It was a blessing to watch the young men grow and mature. I’m sad that I will be leaving Brookings so I won’t be able to see them every week. They are a group of high schoolers who came with energy every week ready to test my patience and teach me at the same time.
Why did you pick your current number?
I was assigned it my freshman year of high school because it was the only receiver number left and I loved it so I have kept it since then.
If an NFL GM was reading this (Which they do), how would you sell yourself in a couple sentences?
I am a person who works as hard as I can everyday to be the best I can be. I love football, and I love winning.
NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com