Recruiting Report: James Krukow (2018)

Growing up in a small Iowa town, Stewartville's James Krukow always wanted to play football. When his family moved to Stewartville before his ninth grade year, Krukow had become a reliable linebacker and running back. Moving states he had to get used to a new school, new surroundings, and new classmates, but he also had to get used to a different way of playing football. Krukow's old school played 8-man football. "The transition to 11-man wasn't too bad," Krukow said. "All you do is subtract two offensive linemen and a skill position, so it wasn't that bad. I was playing the same spots, and the concepts are the same so (the concepts) were still relevant to me." "8-man is a different beast," Krukow continued. "Everything is faster paced. That is where I like to think I got some of my speed – from playing 8-man. I got a leg up when I was younger playing a faster-paced game." The transition apparently went well. As a sophomore for the Stewartville Tigers, he started at weakside linebacker in the Tigers' 4-3 defense. As a junior, the coaching staff moved Krukow into the middle. "I think my strengths are the run game and reading the hole," Krukow said. "I think I can read run or pass well and can get to the hole fast because I have good lateral quickness." Stewartville is accustomed to successful football seasons, and 2016 was no exception. "We had a pretty good season," Krukow said. "We finished 6-3, but overall we had a great senior class. It was a blast." Although he missed a game with a leg injury, Krukow thinks he finished with around 70 tackles. Next season Krukow expects the team to transition to a 3-4 defense, but he expects to stay at one of the middle linebacker spots. "I think the coverages will be different," said the 5'11", 205-pound junior. "We are going to have outside backers dropping into coverage at a different angle, so pass drops are going to have to be switched around, so we don't have any blown coverages." Although defense will continue to be his focus, he also expects to play some tight end or wing in the Tigers' offense. This winter Krukow concentrated on the weight room, and that has continued into the spring. The main difference is he will be increasing his cardio workouts. "I have a friend who is in track, so I always do the sprint workouts," Krukow said. "I am not technically on the track team, I just workout with them." On the football field, Krukow has specific areas he knows he needs to work on. "I need to work on shedding blockers. I need to work on my footwork with my pass drops, but I really need to work on getting off of blocks and shedding blocks. I have kind of struggled with in the past." College recruiting is in the early stages for the junior. He told Northstar Football News that some letters have been trickling in. Friday he visited Winona State – who invited him to a junior day. If Krukow is asked to play an outside linebacker or inside linebacker spot – he can do it. If he is asked to play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 base – he will be ready to do that. He is even ready to go if you take three guys aside off of the field to play some eight-man ball. His senior year and everything that comes with it – Krukow should be able to handle that just fine too.