DITR – Robert Kasongo

Robert Kasongo is a 5’11”, 180 pound, class of 2024 Defensive Back for the Catholic High School Bears in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Robert lines up for at both outside cornerback and sometimes as a nickelback for the Bears, and helped the team achieve an 11-2 record in 2022. Robert is more of a man-to-man corner, and his tape shows that he can keep up with even the fastest opposing receivers and break up passes. Robert mentioned that he likes to watch Tyrann Mathieu, Patrick Peterson, and Jalen Ramsey, and models his game after them. Robert also excels at breaking up screen passes; his tape shows several examples of him sniffing them out and wrapping up the receiver behind the line of scrimmage. Robert was awarded a spot on the all-district 5A team this past season for his stellar play, and he won a state championship with Catholic as a Sophomore in 2021.

Robert was recently a participant at our camp in Rayville, Louisiana, where he ran a 4.59 40-yard dash time, tied for the second quickest of 55 participants. He added a shuttle time of 4.35 seconds and a long jump of 8’11”, giving him one of the best overall performances in the combine drills. That, along with his play and the skills he flashed in the 7 on 7 aspect of the camp, earned Robert a spot in the Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game later this year.

Off the field, Robert has maintained a 3.4 GPA. He currently doesn’t hold any offers to play college football, but is confident that they are on the way. He has one more season to prove that he deserves to play at the next level.

I recently had the chance to interview Robert and ask him some questions:

Why and at what age did you start playing football?

“I started playing football when I was 15 years old, and I started because I felt like I always wanted to try it out when I was a kid, but was always nervous to so I told myself one day to try it out for at least a summer, and I loved it and the brotherhood I got from it.”

Have you always played your current position, or did you play a different position growing up?

“I started out playing Cornerback and I’ve also played some Nickelback, but mostly Corner.”

What sets you apart from everyone else on the field?

“What sets me apart from everyone is that I try to dissect what is going on before it happens, and I also make sure I know every DB’s job on the field, and that helps me play at a faster rate and anticipate plays before they happen.”

What is your favorite accomplishment so far in your football career?

“My favorite accomplishment as an individual would probably be making the All-District Team in probably the toughest district in the state (5A), and as a team, it would probably be winning State in 2021.”

What is your favorite memory of playing football so far?

“My favorite memory of playing football so far would be playing in Yulman Stadium in 2021, when we won the state championship.”

How do you balance athletics and academics?

“I balance athletic and academics by being smart with time and doing as much homework at school, so I don’t have to worry about it at home.”

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced on the field?

“The biggest challenge I have faced off the field would probably be my foot injury a summer ago, and another shoulder injury during the season.”

How do you stay physically fit outside of football?

“I workout 5-6 days a week after practice.”

What are you hoping to achieve in this upcoming season?

“I am hoping to compete for another state championship this year, and also work hard enough to get a chance to compete at the next level.”

What is your end goal for your football career?

“The end goal is for me to be able to look back at my career and say I am happy with who I have become from it, because to me, it’s bigger than football.”

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned playing football?

“The most important lesson I’ve learned from football is to hold yourself and others accountable and to never cheat yourself.”

How do you prepare for big games?

“For big games, I make sure I stretch well the night before, I eat a good breakfast, hydrate, and listen to music to put me in the right mental space.”

What type of play style do you have?

“I am a physical DB, especially at the corner spot because I have a lot of strength at the position, but I try to be patient on deciding when to use physicality and when to use just speed.”

Lastly, who is the biggest role model in your life?

“The biggest role models in my life are my parents, because I have watched them suffer and strain themselves to put food on the table for me and my siblings and I am forever in debt to them for that.”

All photos courtesy of Robert Kasongo (#14)