Prospect Spotlight: RJ Chakolis – Hopkins (2021)
Unfortunately, much of the college recruiting game has to do with numbers. How many rushing yards or tackles did he rack up? How much does he weigh? In the case of Hopkins’ RJ Chakolis RJ Chakolis 5'11" | LB Hopkins…
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Continue ReadingUnfortunately, much of the college recruiting game has to do with numbers. How many rushing yards or tackles did he rack up? How much does he weigh? In the case of Hopkins’ RJ Chakolis RJ Chakolis 5'11" | LB Hopkins | 2021 State MN , one of the things that might be holding him back is this question. How tall is he?
Like his height, the Royals’ schedule did not do Chakolis or his team any favors when it came to section seeding time.
“We went 6-3. I think we kind of got shafted because we play 5A during the regular season and then 6A in the playoffs,” Chakolis said. “One of our losses was to an undefeated team. We ended up getting the last seed in our section. It was kind of a sad ending to the season.”
The Royals relied on their athletic ability to get those six wins.
“We weren’t a big team – we were fast,” Chakolis explained. “When we could make explosive plays, that got the team going. We threw a lot of deep balls and ran a lot of plays to show our explosiveness. On defense, we ran a lot of stunts and blitzes because we weren’t big on that side of the ball either. We needed to cause havoc and get into the backfield.”
Chakolis has been a varsity starter since midway through his 8th-grade season. Since the beginning and although not full-time, the soon-to-be senior has been a full-time starter on defense and has also been playing running back or fullback since then.
“I thought I played well in my junior year. I played running back and was the team’s punt returner. I played middle linebacker and free safety. I got to play quarterback in our Wildcat formations. I thought I played well, and I had a lot of fun.”
Chakolis balances the physical and mental parts of the game.
“I watch a lot of film. I can tell what the play is going to be based on the formation and can tell my linemen which way to go. I think I am also good at getting off blocks. I don’t believe anyone should beat me one on one – kind of that wrestling mentality. On offense, it is hard for one person to tackle me – especially in open space.”
Chakolis has had a wrestling mentality for a long time. It paid off handsomely last winter.
“I have been wrestling longer than I have been playing football,” Chakolis told prepredzone.com. “Wrestling helps so much with mental toughness. When you bring that into a team sport, it ups the accountability of the team. This year I had a lot of fun. I won 38 matches. Every match I lost, the guy eventually placed in the top three at State. I had been to State five times, and this time I got on the top of the podium.”
The 2020 195-pound AAA state champion usually wrestles freestyle, folk style, and plays centerfield and catcher on the baseball team in the spring, but with COVID 19, he has focused on football.
“I want to get better in man to man coverage. To do that, I need to work on my hips so I can open my hips quickly. I worked out with TNT Academy and at Gameface. During the shutdown, I worked out with my dad. We did mainly cardio and footwork stuff.”
At 5″10’ 205-pounds, Chakolis feels like he might be getting overlooked by college programs.
“I have been recruited by schools from all levels. I think if I were 6’2″, I would be the number one recruited linebacker in the state. I think I am the number one linebacker in the state. Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska have been looking at me. Northern Iowa is the school I have been talking to the most. North Dakota State came to watch me wrestle twice last season – that showed me they are interested. Wyoming came to visit me at school and to watch me wrestle.”
At least three schools have not overlooked the three-sport athlete.
“I have an offer from Valparaiso, Minnesota-Duluth, and the University of Mary. All my offers are for linebacker, but some of the other schools have talked about strong safety.”
“They like my film, how aggressive I am, and how I can get to the ball,” Chakolis continued. “They like that I can play multiple positions. When they talk to my coach, he tells them about my leadership and how I do well off the field.”
If he puts up more film like he did his junior season, even at 5’10″ Chakolis will have many more offers coming his way.