Getting to Know Derek Kinder
8/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 14, 2008
Derek Kinder is rarin' to go, anxious to put a lost 2007 redshirt season behind him. The 6-1 senior wide receiver from Albion, New York suffered a serious injury to his right knee during the first week of practice last August, had subsequent surgery, and spent much of his time rehabilitating the knee, with an eye toward 2008.
"I consider myself one-hundred percent now," said Kinder, following a morning workout on a hot, muggy day at Pitt's football complex. "I've been working all summer getting through all the pain and rehab, so now I feel I'm ready to go. I am looking forward to the season."
While his friends and teammates were going through practices, Kinder was spending about three to four hours per day working to rehabilitate and strengthen his knee. Initially, the experience was difficult for him to accept.
"Throughout my whole career, I'd never had any injury like that," he said. "No broken bones or anything. When I got injured, it was kind of devastating at first. I would just be sitting in my room, wondering, 'Why did this happen to me? Could I have done anything to have prevented it?' There were a lot of friends and family members who helped me get trough it. They just said, 'Take it day by day, and everything happens for a reason.'"
The added responsibility of being a college student presented unique challenges also.
"It (being injured) was definitely a real inconvenience at first," Kinder explained. "It happened a week or so before classes started, so I had to work at using crutches. I'd never used crutches before. In the long run, though, it definitely helped me because I was able to get another year of eligibility, and I was able to graduate on time."
Kinder is a recent graduate with a degree in economics, one of eight members of the 2008 Panthers to have already earned an undergraduate diploma. He'll be attending fall semester classes with his eye on another degree, perhaps in communications. Regardless, he enters his final season of collegiate football with a better appreciation for his talent and the opportunity it's given him.
"Before, I probably did take my health a little bit for granted," he admits. "I'm a lot more determined now to do all the little things that the coaches are always emphasizing. The need to warm up properly, because that helps prevent injuries. I definitely take that to heart, and get my full stretching in."
During games last season, Kinder was on the sideline, watching and coaching the other receivers as best he could. Now, he's looking forward to joining the mix at what might be Pitt's best group of receivers in some time.
"We're rather deep at wide receiver, and I definitely think we can help this team win some games this year," he remarked.
Kinder was a first-team All-Big East selection and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist in 2006, when he caught 57 passes for 847 yards and six touchdowns. In his career, he has 95 catches, 10 for touchdowns. He takes pride in all aspects of his game. Kinder will always be remembered for his crushing block of two West Virginia defenders to free Darrelle Revis for a scintillating 73-yard punt return for a touchdown during the 2006 game at Heinz Field.
"That play seems like it was so long ago," Kinder says, laughing. "But it showed the type of mentality I like to have on the field. I'm just a hard-working, tough-nosed guy who will do anything to help the team win."