You see the product on the field. #7 for Hays High accelerating towards the end zone or running through a tackle. The highlights under the Friday night lights are just a small part of the story for Jaren Kanak.
It is the work away from the field that built the Kanak into the top prospect out of Kansas for this signing class. That work included multiple trips to the gym in a single day. Extra foot work and speed drills at home and about any place he could find space.
Jaren Kanak
The spring of 2021 proved to be where Kanak's recruiting profile exploded. The then junior, clocked a fully automated timed 10.37 second 100 meter dash. That time is one of the fastest in Kanas high school history.
Kanak originally committed to Clemson and planned to sign his National Letter of Intent during the early signing period in December. Plans however changed. Brent Venables, who was the major recruiter of Kanak, left his position as defensive coordinator at Clemson to become the head coach at the University of Oklahoma.
The relationship that he had built with Venables left Kanak wondering if he should make a change as well. Following some extensive soul searching, Kanak found himself leaning toward a change to the Sooners as well.
The process though took long enough to take out the possibility of signing a National Letter of Intent with Oklahoma in December. This result was no problem for Kanak as he went ahead and enrolled at Oklahoma for the spring 2022 semester. Kanak had already planned on graduating early from Hays High and completed the necessary course work.
In lieu of a signing celebration, since the next signing period opens in February, a commitment celebration was held for Kanak at Hays High School. The financial aid agreement that Kanak signed for the upcoming semester acted as a letter of intent, he will soon be placed on scholarship. The celebration took place on Wednesday, just a few days before Kanak moves to Norman, Oklahoma to begin his academic work and spring football.
Coach Tony Crough
Kanak played quarterback his senior year after primarily being a receiver for the past three seasons. The 2021 season broke several record for Hays High football. Total yards in a season, total rushing yards, and scoring total. Kanak broke the school record for total rushing yards at 1,615 and points scored in a season with 142.
Kanak's new position in college won't have him running through would be tacklers on his way to the end zone and landing at #2 on the ESPN's Top 10 plays. Instead he will be the one doing the tackling from a linebacker position.