Tim Kynard
Defensive End
6′-3″, 260 lbs.
Junior (on scholarship, 2 years to play 2)
St. John’s HS / Toledo, Ohio

ALE Ranking last year: #54
ALE Ranking in 2010: #64

What I Know About Him:

I know it’s pronounced “Kuh-NARD”, but I also know that I’ll always say “KY-nerd” for some reason. Hmmm… maybe I should switch to spelling it “Kuhnard” so I’ll remember. Not for all of time – just for the rest of this post. Done.

In Vic Koenning’s defense, I understood Tim Kuhnard’s role as a strongside defensive end. In Tim Banks’ defense, I’m just not sure yet. Especially since the coaching staff has been saying that Justin Staples will be switching over from Bandit last year to defensive end this year. Does that mean this defense is looking for more mobile guys at the DE position as well as the Leo position? Maybe. It’s worth watching.

What I Expect From Him:

This year, I think Kuhnard will battle with Staples at DE. Next year, I think the position is his.

Let’s detail that a little more. This year, it’s Michael Buchanan backed up by Darrius Caldwell at the Leo (weakside DE), and Justin Staples backed up by Tim Kynard at the strongside DE position. After Buchanan and Staples graduate, Darrius Caldwell will be backed up by… backed up by… hey, can someone get Tim Beckman on the phone and tell him that while he’s in Happy Valley, we could sure use a backup at Leo for next year? Thanks.

So it’s Caldwell and then Penn State player to be named later at Leo, and then Kuhnard battling Kenny Nelson at stronside DE. And if Jarrod Clements is more of a DE than he is a DT, he’s in the mix at strongside DE as well. But he’s not a Leo. Man, we sure could use a second Leo after Buchanan graduates. Are we sure that Houston Bates doesn’t want to add 19 pounds and move back to his high school position?

Why, you might even say that the belief that this team is deep at defensive end is a canard. Get it? Canard. Nothing? The statement that we have enough defensive ends on the roster is a canard. A canard. Nevermind.