Jahlas providing the hits for Kennedy (with video)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Josh Jahlas is Cedar Rapids Kennedy's hitman.

He plays the role well, and relishes it whenever he dons the shoulder pads and buckles his chin strap to take the field.

"I just love hitting," Jahlas said. "I figure it hurts them more than it hurts me. If you hit them harder, it doesn't hurt you as much as them."

The senior safety dished out his share of hits last year, leading the Cougars in tackles. He  will be expected to resume that role as Kennedy looks to rebuild after a 7-5 record and state quarterfinal appearance in 2011.

The Cougars began two-a-day practices Monday, and open the season hosting rival Cedar Rapids Xavier on Aug. 26 at Kingston Stadium.

Opposing players have been on the receiving end of his hits, but his teammates certainly notice and respect his ability.

"He's tough as nails," senior running back Trevor Heitland said. "He's the toughest kid I've ever seen (and) definitely played with. He hits, plays and works hard."

One hit stands out  last season, where he helped the Cougars field one of the Mississippi Valley Conference's top defenses. Toward the end of Kennedy's 37-10 Week 7 win over Iowa City West, Jahlas delivered a blow that led to an interception.

"I hit some kid pretty hard and knocked his helmet off," Jahlas said. "I didn't even know it happened afterward. I was looking up and we actually picked it off. I knocked it out of his hand and someone else caught it."

As a junior, Jahlas was a key cog in the Cougars defense, tallying 93 total tackles with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, returning one for a touchdown. The statistics helped him earn second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Newspaper Association and made him a first-team All-MVC Mississippi Division pick.

"He's a great kid, hard worker, he's got all the intangibles, but that's what I think separates him," Kennedy Coach Tim Lewis said. "He understands the game, he understands angles, he's extremely smart and will make someone a good free safety (in college)."

Jahlas credited his parents, Karen and John Jahlas, for instilling a strong work ethic and a dose of humility if he gets over confident. Lewis recognizes the influence, noting that Jahlas is a good student and citizen who flips a switch to fierce competitor when the whistle blows.

"We talk to our kids about being great people off the field, but turn into a different person on the field and that's exactly him," Lewis said. "He gets on the field and he doesn't want to make friends. He plays the it's supposed to be played."

Jahlas and his teammates go through a tackling drill led by kennedy defensive coordinator Brian White.

The 6-foot-1 defender is determined to be involved in every player. He is a living example of defensive coordinator Brian White's mantra of 11 men to the ball. More often than not, when the Cougars unpiled after a tackle you will see Jahlas.

"I just try to see the ball and get to it as fast as I can," said Jahlas, who also plays baseball, basketball and runs track. "I want to try to get in on every tackle that I can."

Learning the roles of his teammates provides an understanding that allows him to get the ball and be a defensive leader. Lewis said Jahlas takes on the responsibility of a linebacker from the safety spot, knowing everyone's duties and communicating with his teammates before and during plays.

"He know's everybody's assignment," Lewis said. "He understands the defense. He understands what people are doing and what we're trying to do."

Cougars work on reading the play, following and swarming the ball Tuesday morning.

Jahlas takes his leadership role seriously, and it will be vital in the growth of a young, inexperienced team. He said he prefers to be a leader by example by doing the best he can every time out, attempting to continue the tradition his previous teammates handed to this senior class.

"I try to teach the younger guys the game," Jahlas said. "I had a lot of great leaders last year so they taught me and I'm trying to pass it on."

The Cougars return four starters, including Jahlas, who will also start at wide receiver. Lewis said this is the first year he has had a complete turnover on the offensive line. The experience that Jahlas and Heitland, who rushed for 929 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games, own is invaluable. Jahlas is optimistic his teammates will be hungry for their chance.

"This year I feel we're going to be able to reload pretty quickly, because we have a lot of guys that want to come out here and get playing time," Jahlas said. "They didn't get a lot last year so they're going to be gunning and ready to go."

Cougars run a coverage drill Tuesday during the morning practice of two-a-days.

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