Let’s welcome the latest Diamond in the Rough, Kaden Keiser, from the class of 2026! Kaden is 6’4 and weighs 240 lbs. Kaden is very serious about his academics, maintaining a 3.6 GPA during his senior year. Kaden’s strong footwork, rigid discipline, and overall physicality led to him earning First Team Academic All-District for the 2025 season, along with receiving Honorable Mention for All-District 2025. These qualities have earned Kaden a plethora of offers inculding Wisconsin Lutheran College, Hendrix, Maine Maritime Academy, and Howard Payne University. Although he had lots of options, Kaden recently signed with Texas A&M Texarkana!
I had the amazing opportunity to interview Kaden. See his answers below!
Is football the only sport you play?
“As of right now, yes.”
What is your favorite sport?
“Football.”
What is the most non-athletic task you are secretly good at?
“Eating.”
Who is your dream team to play for?
“Texas A&M for college, and then the Green Bay Packers.”
Who is your favorite player?
“Aaron Rodgers, just the way he passes the ball is insane. He is my absolute favorite to watch.”
What is your favorite part of football?
“The brotherhood.”
Were there any teams you looked forward to playing?
I went up against my own district, which had a lot of tough contenders. It was an opportunity to play against the best of the best, so I definitely looked forward to it.”
Are there any specific game day rituals you follow?
“I buy a pound a candy gummies, walk around the field 2x during pregame, and I can’t head to the locker room until I do.”
How often do you practice?
“5x a week, usually Monday through Friday.”
What are your strengths?
“Communication, understanding situations, and plays. I’m also a fast learner.”
What are your weaknesses?
“I tend to assume stuff.”
Are you looking to improve any specific skills or tactics?
“My run blocking, and I can always pick up new skills and learn more for college.”
Do you have any goals you are trying to achieve?
“I want to win a playoff with my new team. I really would like to be a firefighter when I’m done. I like helping poeple and I think the chance to save lives and be a paramedic firefighter is very interesting to me. “
If you could be described in one word, what would it be?
“Relentless.”
What do you want to be remembered for?
“Being a great team mate. I always show up.”
Who is the biggest supporter in your journey?
“My mom. She always pushes me, and so does my dad. They push me to do what I need to do, and just help me a lot. My coach, Jacob Burtan. He came to teach us tackles, all the way from another school. Ultimately, he helps me achieve everything as well.”
What lessons did you learn from playing in the bowl game?
“Understanding more about our assignments and what to do. We had some bonds between me and the others, so communication was a big one.”
What was your favorite memory from the bowl game?
“I think winning the whole thing, the championship at the end, was fun.”
What was the most difficult part of the bowl game?
“Staying in the bunks with the others, it was hard to adapt.”
Did the bowl game change how you view football?
“I don’t think it changed how I view football. It showed me what other people thought and showed the differences in Louisiana versus Texas football. The level differences were huge, and the differences in coaches that everyone had, going up against the All-State guys and my own district, it was a variety of size and strength.”
67
0
24.77k
20
