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Chat with a Captain — Jake Wieneke
8/31/2017 5:15:00 PM | Football
Senior Jake Wieneke is in his first year as a team captain. The record-setting wide receiver took time recently to reflect on his career at SDSU and discuss his role as a captain. A full transcript of the interview is posted at GoJacks.com.
Q: What made you decide to become a Jackrabbit?
Wieneke: "My decision to become a Jackrabbit was, coming out of high school, my only (Division I)?offer. I just fell in love with the atmosphere of the coaches, Coach Stig and who he is as a man. Something that caught my eye was that we prayed before all the meals on my visit. That's something that's very special and shows who (Coach Stig) is — a great Christian man and outspoken about it — and I could tell he cared about me and everybody who came, as people."
Q: This season you are in a new role as one of the team captains. How would you describe your leadership style?
Wieneke: "First of all, it's an honor to be a captain of this team. My leadership style has always been a lead-by-example type of guy. Now, I think I definitely will try to lead my position group first and be an example to them in everything that I do. As a leader of this team, I'm just trying to be a little more outspoken, but also to be me and brighten people's days and enjoy the time spent with all my teammates."
Q: You've set a bunch of records and can set the SDSU career receptions record tonight. How have you been able to consistently put up big numbers while still elevating your level of play through your first three seasons?
Wieneke: "I've been in a great position since my freshman year. The coaches have done a great job of just getting me in and getting me the ball so I've had a lot success.
"We've had so many great teams that (opponents) can't just focus on one player. My freshman year, they didn't even know about me; we had (Jason) Schneider on the other side, we had (Zach) Zenner running for 2,000 yards and we great quarterbacks in (Austin) Sumner and (Zach) Lujan so it was just a great opportunity for me to come in and play."
Q: You mentioned some of the guys who have thrown the ball over the years. You've put up your numbers with three different starting quarterbacks and now are in your second year with Taryn Christion as the full-time starter. How have things come along with him having one more year in the system and working with the receivers?
Wieneke: "Taryn, he's a special player. You saw last year how good he was and even his freshman year. He's so much better from then it's pretty remarkable. To see his growth — as a man, as a leader and as a player — he understands it all and can do it all. He can run, he can throw, he's composed and he leads the team. He's a special guy."
Q: The ball skills that you have among your receivers is impressive. Both you and Dallas Goedert seem to be able to catch a ball anytime and anywhere. Are you able to replicate those situations in practice or is it just something that comes naturally?
Wieneke: "We've just played a lot of football. Growing up, I played a lot of pickup games, a lot of playing catch. All I really focus on is looking at the ball — it doesn't matter if you get hit, it doesn't matter if you're right next to the quarterback or 50, 60 yards downfield — all you're doing is playing catch. Ever since I was little, I would do this thing with my dad, or my brother or my friends in the backyard or driveway in which we'd pick a line and try to keep our feet inbounds. I always tried to keep both feet in because that's what the NFL has.
"Dallas is the same way — his ball skills are amazing. He can go up and get it, he can catch it in traffic and he can catch it one-handed like you've seen. He does it every day."
Q: Your brother, Clark, also is a member of the Jackrabbit football team. What has that been like to have gone through this journey with a family member?
Wieneke: "There's nothing better than that. Our lockers are right next to each other so I get to see him every day. I've had a couple classes with him — we're the same major (physical education/ teacher education), but he's two years younger. It's just a blessing getting to see him every day and you really get to cherish those times with your family."
Q: Not only have you done the work on the field, but also in the classroom. How have you been able to successfully balance football and academics?
Wieneke: "Sometimes you get busy, but I think that's something this program, that Coach Stig and all the coaches do a great job of is preparing us for that and helping us to manage our time and really put what's important first.
"This fall I'm student teaching every day in (physical education). I'll go to Medary Elementary for the first six weeks teaching K through 3, then I'll be at Brookings High School for the second six weeks. I just finished my first couple days and it's been awesome working with kids and seeing their smiles, their energy. It brightens my day."
Q: Your work in the community has allowed you to make some lasting connections. What made you decide to take on some of those roles?
Wieneke: "There's been a lot of opportunities through (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and I think it really started my freshman year when somebody came in to talk about the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program.
"My roommate — Jacob Menage — and I both got involved with that and that has really been a blessing. I got a great kid — he was a seventh-grader at the time and now he's a junior in high school so he's really grown up before my eyes.
"I've also gotten involved with churches by leading youth group. It's fun to go somewhere to eat and see a bunch of people you know, to go to church and see a bunch of kids and families you know. It's been a lot of fun."
Q: How are you and your teammates dealing with the high expectations going into this season?
Wieneke: "We try not to pay that much attention to the rankings. We hear about some of those rankings and we know we're the highest we've been preseason so we know that people will be coming for us. At the same time, we kind of focus on what we can control. That's awesome for the fans, but for us, we try to focus on our jobs and be the best that we can be."
Q: How many do you have and what are some of your favorite pieces to that collection.
Wieneke: I would say 19-plus. I think it's more than 19 (jerseys), but I'm not sure exactly. I've worn a jersey every day to college, every day to class through my whole college career. My favorite jersey is probably (Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player) Russell Westbrook's — he's my favorite player. I like this one — I've got a Clyde Drexler on right now —it's a nice throwback, it's a little small, a little tight, but I like it."
Q: Your accomplishments so far have caught the attention of those in the NFL. What are some of the things you're been hearing from the scouts as they've made their way to Brookings during fall camp?
Wieneke: "I have people telling me a lot of different things, but just like the preseason rankings, I try not to pay a lot of attention to it. I don't how much of it is true, how much is not. I'm not too worried about that. I'm just trying to focus on this season, what I can do for this team and just work as hard as I can to be the best that I can be as a player, as a person and for this team. At the end of the season is when I'll worry about that."
Q: What made you decide to become a Jackrabbit?
Wieneke: "My decision to become a Jackrabbit was, coming out of high school, my only (Division I)?offer. I just fell in love with the atmosphere of the coaches, Coach Stig and who he is as a man. Something that caught my eye was that we prayed before all the meals on my visit. That's something that's very special and shows who (Coach Stig) is — a great Christian man and outspoken about it — and I could tell he cared about me and everybody who came, as people."
Q: This season you are in a new role as one of the team captains. How would you describe your leadership style?
Wieneke: "First of all, it's an honor to be a captain of this team. My leadership style has always been a lead-by-example type of guy. Now, I think I definitely will try to lead my position group first and be an example to them in everything that I do. As a leader of this team, I'm just trying to be a little more outspoken, but also to be me and brighten people's days and enjoy the time spent with all my teammates."
Q: You've set a bunch of records and can set the SDSU career receptions record tonight. How have you been able to consistently put up big numbers while still elevating your level of play through your first three seasons?
Wieneke: "I've been in a great position since my freshman year. The coaches have done a great job of just getting me in and getting me the ball so I've had a lot success.
"We've had so many great teams that (opponents) can't just focus on one player. My freshman year, they didn't even know about me; we had (Jason) Schneider on the other side, we had (Zach) Zenner running for 2,000 yards and we great quarterbacks in (Austin) Sumner and (Zach) Lujan so it was just a great opportunity for me to come in and play."
Q: You mentioned some of the guys who have thrown the ball over the years. You've put up your numbers with three different starting quarterbacks and now are in your second year with Taryn Christion as the full-time starter. How have things come along with him having one more year in the system and working with the receivers?
Wieneke: "Taryn, he's a special player. You saw last year how good he was and even his freshman year. He's so much better from then it's pretty remarkable. To see his growth — as a man, as a leader and as a player — he understands it all and can do it all. He can run, he can throw, he's composed and he leads the team. He's a special guy."
Q: The ball skills that you have among your receivers is impressive. Both you and Dallas Goedert seem to be able to catch a ball anytime and anywhere. Are you able to replicate those situations in practice or is it just something that comes naturally?
Wieneke: "We've just played a lot of football. Growing up, I played a lot of pickup games, a lot of playing catch. All I really focus on is looking at the ball — it doesn't matter if you get hit, it doesn't matter if you're right next to the quarterback or 50, 60 yards downfield — all you're doing is playing catch. Ever since I was little, I would do this thing with my dad, or my brother or my friends in the backyard or driveway in which we'd pick a line and try to keep our feet inbounds. I always tried to keep both feet in because that's what the NFL has.
"Dallas is the same way — his ball skills are amazing. He can go up and get it, he can catch it in traffic and he can catch it one-handed like you've seen. He does it every day."
Q: Your brother, Clark, also is a member of the Jackrabbit football team. What has that been like to have gone through this journey with a family member?
Wieneke: "There's nothing better than that. Our lockers are right next to each other so I get to see him every day. I've had a couple classes with him — we're the same major (physical education/ teacher education), but he's two years younger. It's just a blessing getting to see him every day and you really get to cherish those times with your family."
Q: Not only have you done the work on the field, but also in the classroom. How have you been able to successfully balance football and academics?
Wieneke: "Sometimes you get busy, but I think that's something this program, that Coach Stig and all the coaches do a great job of is preparing us for that and helping us to manage our time and really put what's important first.
"This fall I'm student teaching every day in (physical education). I'll go to Medary Elementary for the first six weeks teaching K through 3, then I'll be at Brookings High School for the second six weeks. I just finished my first couple days and it's been awesome working with kids and seeing their smiles, their energy. It brightens my day."
Q: Your work in the community has allowed you to make some lasting connections. What made you decide to take on some of those roles?
Wieneke: "There's been a lot of opportunities through (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and I think it really started my freshman year when somebody came in to talk about the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program.
"My roommate — Jacob Menage — and I both got involved with that and that has really been a blessing. I got a great kid — he was a seventh-grader at the time and now he's a junior in high school so he's really grown up before my eyes.
"I've also gotten involved with churches by leading youth group. It's fun to go somewhere to eat and see a bunch of people you know, to go to church and see a bunch of kids and families you know. It's been a lot of fun."
Q: How are you and your teammates dealing with the high expectations going into this season?
Wieneke: "We try not to pay that much attention to the rankings. We hear about some of those rankings and we know we're the highest we've been preseason so we know that people will be coming for us. At the same time, we kind of focus on what we can control. That's awesome for the fans, but for us, we try to focus on our jobs and be the best that we can be."
Q: How many do you have and what are some of your favorite pieces to that collection.
Wieneke: I would say 19-plus. I think it's more than 19 (jerseys), but I'm not sure exactly. I've worn a jersey every day to college, every day to class through my whole college career. My favorite jersey is probably (Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player) Russell Westbrook's — he's my favorite player. I like this one — I've got a Clyde Drexler on right now —it's a nice throwback, it's a little small, a little tight, but I like it."
Q: Your accomplishments so far have caught the attention of those in the NFL. What are some of the things you're been hearing from the scouts as they've made their way to Brookings during fall camp?
Wieneke: "I have people telling me a lot of different things, but just like the preseason rankings, I try not to pay a lot of attention to it. I don't how much of it is true, how much is not. I'm not too worried about that. I'm just trying to focus on this season, what I can do for this team and just work as hard as I can to be the best that I can be as a player, as a person and for this team. At the end of the season is when I'll worry about that."
-GoJacks.com-
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