I found this on Svitek

[DeepSouth]

http://gostanford.collegesports.com/...ek_will00.html
Pronunciation: SVEE-tek

At Stanford: Fifth-year senior who has started 14 games for Stanford at defensive end, including all 11 in 2003 ... At 6-7 and 292, Will combines great size and athleticism ... Very experienced and intelligent player, his continued improvement and ability to put pressure on the quarterback will play a pivotal role on the Cardinal defense in 2004 ... Played both tight end and defensive end in 2002, including two games in which he played both ways ... Also participated on the Cardinal track team in the throws ... Two-time Academic All-Pac-10 selection.

The 2004 Season: Game-By-Game Statistics

The 2003 Season: A starter at one defensive spot in all 11 games, Will finished the year with 20 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and one interception ... He had five tackles, including one sack and tackle for loss, in Stanford's win over UCLA ... Had four tackles and two tackles for loss against Notre Dame ... Also had four tackles in The Big Game vs. Cal ... Recorded his first career interception against Washington State ... Named Second-Team Academic All-Pac-10.

The 2002 Season: Will started the season at defensive end, was moved to tight end in game No. 4, then played both ways in the final two games of the season ... He began the year starting the first three games at defensive end, but was moved to tight end after injuries left the Cardinal with only one tight end ... Over the next six games, he was the team's No. 2 tight end ... Injuries to the defensive line then forced him back to defensive end ... In the final two games vs. Oregon State and Cal, he played both defensive end and tight end, becoming the first Cardinal to play both ways in a game since Scott Frost played quarterback and safety in 1994 ... He recorded three tackles against Oregon State and four vs. Cal ... As a tight end, he caught one pass for six yards at Oregon ... He also scored a two-point conversion at UCLA when he caught a pass in the end zone from place-kicker Michael Sgroi after an errant snap on a PAT attempt ... Named Second-Team Academic All-Pac-10.

The 2001 Season: Appeared in eight games as a reserve defensive lineman ... Recorded two assisted tackles on the season ... Recorded an assisted tackle against both Arizona State and San Jose State. The 2000 Season: Redshirted the campaign as a true freshman. In Track: Competed in the throws during the 2003 indoor and outdoor seasons for the Cardinal ... Had the team's top mark in the shot put at 53-9 3/4 ... Finished 10th in the shot put at the NCAA West Regional (51-7).

In High School: Athletic defensive end was considered one of the top recruits in the nation ... An All-America selection by SuperPrep, PrepStar, Cal-Hi Student Sports and Max Emfinger's Bluechips ... Honorable Mention All-American by USA Today ... Selected to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame ... Was named the California Division II Athlete of the Year by Cal-Hi Student Sports as a senior ... SuperPrep ranked him the #6 tight end in the nation and the 11th-best recruit in the Far West ... PrepStar rated Svitek the #2 tight end in the west ... He recorded 48 receptions for 624 yards and four touchdowns as a senior at Newbury Park High School in Southern California ... As a defensive end, he had 87 tackles, nine sacks and five forced fumbles ... Named First-Team All-League, All-County and All-CIF as a defensive end ... Second-Team All-State as a tight end ... First-Team All-Area by the L.A. Daily News and Ventura County Star ... Named to the California-Florida All-Star football classic played in the Rose Bowl during the summer of 2000 ... The 1999-2000 Ventura County High School Athlete of the Year ... Had 21 receptions and was named First-Team All-League as a junior ... Two-time National Decathlon Champion ... He won the 15-16 decathlon age group championship at the USA Youth Track and Field Championships in 1997 and '98 ... In 1999, he placed second in the 17-18 age group ... Won the league title in the shot put in 2000 with a best of 59-3 ... Also the Ventura County champion in the shot and discus following his senior season ... The 1999 CIF champion in the shot put ... His other bests include 22-1 in the long jump and 159-7 in the discus ... Three-year letter-winner in basketball ... First-Team All-League and All-Ventura County in hoops as a senior ... Second-team All-League as a junior ... Member of the California Scholastic Federation.

Personal Information: Born January 8, 1982 in the Czech Republic (Prague) ... Political Science major ... His father, Milan, was a member of the Czech National Track Team.


Svitek's Career Statistics
Year UT AT TT Sack/Yds TFL/Yds Int
2001 0 2 2 0/0 0/0 0
2002 3 5 8 0/0 0/0 0
2003 11 9 20 1/6 3/9 1
Totals 14 16 30 1/6 3/9 1
Getting to Know: Will Svitek
I would describe myself as a person as: a hard worker
The reason I love football is: head to head competition
I pattern my play after: Ryan Eklund
For me to improve as a person, I need to: be more Christ like
My favorite pre-game ritual is: calling my parents before we leave the hotel
My greatest athletic moment is: winning the youth national decathlon championship
The biggest thrill in my life to date is: graduating from Stanford
My favorite stadium in which to play is: Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
The reason I chose Stanford University is: it epitomized the true essence of a student-athlete
Since coming to Stanford, I have learned: to branch out
The best thing about Stanford is: the alumni
My favorite class at Stanford is: any class I got an "A" in
My least favorite class at Stanford is: any class I got a "C" in
What sets Stanford apart from other college football programs? my teammates
The sports team I followed when I was younger: Lakers and Redskins
The athlete I admire most is: Dan O'Brien
The people I admire most is: my parents
If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be: George Bush
Best book I have read: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Favorite food: everything
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on: protein shakes
Favorite movie: Good Will Hunting
Favorite TV show: The O'Reilly Factor
Favorite actor: Matt Damon
Favorite actress: Sandra Bullock
If a movie were made of my life, I would have the following actor play me: Stifler from American Pie (Sean Williams Scott)
Favorite musical group or performer: Kenny Chesney
If I were not playing college football, I would be: getting better grades
After my Stanford career, I'd like to be remembered as: a reliable teammate
The best advice I ever received was: work like it depends on you, pray like it depends on God - Jim Stump The people who had the greatest influence on my life: my mom and dad
One moment in history I wish I could have seen: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The place I'd most like to visit: the Rose Bowl on January 1st
The favorite place I've visited: is the Czech Republic
Hobbies: reading, watching television, hanging out with family and friends
Ten years from now, I'd like to be: running marathons
My advice to youngsters: listen to your parents
My most prized possession: my family
If I won $1 million, I would: go to Vegas and turn my $1 million into $2 million
The one thing about college football I would change: enforce the 20 hour rule

[DeepSouth]

Kid must be an athelete;

My greatest athletic moment is: winning the youth national decathlon championship

[DeepSouth]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...PGK7BPBG81.DTL
Stanford lineman Will Svitek is planning an unusual move from defense to offense as he prepares for an NFL career, but it doesn't compare with the courageous decision his father made more than 20 years ago, a decision that allowed Will to grow up in a free country.

Svitek was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), in 1982, but he lived there just two years with his family, which includes his mother and three older brothers, before a fateful night in 1984.

"My dad just couldn't take living under a Communist regime, where if you spoke out against anything, you were thrown into prison," Svitek said. "So, one night, he came home and said, 'We're not going to live here any more. We're leaving.'

"We couldn't tell our families or friends. We had to leave all our clothes and belongings behind. We literally left with just the clothes on our back."

Somehow, the Sviteks got to the border, a distance of more than 100 miles, and crossed into Austria.

"We had to live in a refugee camp for eight months," Will remembered. "Finally, we got permission to enter the United States, and we went to Pasadena."

His father, Milan, had been an urban planner in Prague, but because he spoke no English when the family arrived in the United States, he and his wife had to take menial jobs to support their family. Eventually, he learned the language and was able to return to his profession.

Milan Svitek had been a member of the Czech national track and field team, and he passed along his athletic genes to Will, who played basketball and football in high school at Newbury Park in Ventura County, where the family had moved, and also competed in track and field. He won the 15-16 national competition in the decathlon two years running and finished second in the 17- 18 competition the next year.

Will has shown the same versatility in his football career. In high school, he was a tight end and defensive end, All-CIF as a defensive end and second-team as a tight end. As late as his sophomore year at Stanford, he was still a backup tight end, while starting at defensive end.

His tight-end days are over, though, because he has simply gotten too big. He came into school at 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, but he's now 305. Although he appears almost lean, he can probably go easily to 330.

As a defensive end, he was Stanford's best last year, but after talking to his agent, Steve Baker, he decided his NFL future was brighter as an offensive lineman.

"I was approached by people from 12-13 teams when I was playing in the Shrine Game," he said, "and about half of them talked to me about playing offense and the other half defense, but Steve told me, from his talks to NFL teams, more of them thought I'd be better on offense."

Traditionally, defensive linemen have been the wild and crazy athletes, while offensive linemen have played under control. Svitek thinks he can combine the two personalities.

"I think I can bring that defensive, go-after-them attitude to playing the offensive line," he said. "Plus, I know all the things that the offensive linemen do that really bug defensive linemen, all those little tricks, so now, I can use them for my own benefit."

In the East-West Shrine Game, Svitek played defensive end and performed well. Meanwhile, he was working after the regular practice with former 49ers guard Guy McIntyre. "It's hard to say what he can do based on that," McIntyre said, "because he was blocking against air. But he seems to have the ability."

Since then, Svitek has been doing drills (he graduated from Stanford last year, so he has no classes to worry about), concentrating on his footwork.

Svitek worked out for about 30 NFL scouts at Stanford last Wednesday and reportedly did very well. He ran the 40 in 4.95, an excellent time for a 300- pounder, and bench-pressed 33 reps of 225 pounds, which tests strength and explosiveness. That was better than any offense lineman at the combine, to which Svitek was not invited. He also had a vertical leap of 32 inches.

"The scouts who talked to me all said I did well," Svitek said. "I think I've really helped myself with my Shrine Game workouts and this one. I'm excited about my chances in the draft.''

He won't be picked on the first day (first three rounds), but could be in the later rounds when NFL teams often draft on potential. With his size and athleticism, Svitek certainly has potential.

He also has no doubt that he can make it. "I think I'm a good athlete as a defensive lineman, but I'll be a great one as an offensive lineman," he said.

When you've lived through the life-changing experience he had as a 2-year- old, a position change is nothing.

[yoswif]

They say Svitek outgrew the tightend position so he was switched to Dline. I don't think you outgrow positions in the NFL. A 300 lb decathlete who can get open and catch a pass would be an interesting weapon in Al Saunders' hands.

I thought Joe Valerio was wasted at offensive tackle.

[CoMoChief]

What position does he actually play??? Chiefs report says hes an OG, Stanford says he was a DE/TE, what did we draft this guy for?

This guy does look to be an athlete though. He has good size and hes mobile. I like this guy, hes another Brian Waters.

[Braincase]

He'll be in the pickup with Boomer and Jared. Yeehaw!

[Big Chief Homer]

I wish they would leave him at DE(if hes big enough).Hes got a mean streak in him.In an article this morning they said there were 3 fight at this weekends rookie camp and he was in the middle of all of them.

[Iowanian]

I could see how working with say, Willi Roaf for a year or two could turn that guy into a player.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by BSPimpDude

What position does he actually play??? Chiefs report says hes an OG, Stanford says he was a DE/TE, what did we draft this guy for?

This guy does look to be an athlete though. He has good size and hes mobile. I like this guy, hes another Brian Waters.

Post Draft reports stated the Chiefs drafted him to play Offensive Tackle.

[yoswif]

Svitek caught 48 passes his senior year in HS. I don't care where you're playing, 48 catches for a high school TE shows some decent receiver skills. Now he's a very athletic 6'7" and 300 lbs. I don't see any downside to giving Svitek a shot at "big" TE before Oline.

[tommykat]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I could see how working with say, Willi Roaf for a year or two could turn that guy into a player.

I agree with you Iowanian....touche'. Very true endeed.

[redfan]

Great story about his family. Thanks for posting it, Deep.
repreprepreprep

[nascher]

OT

[redfan]

Originally Posted by yoswif

Svitek caught 48 passes his senior year in HS. I don't care where you're playing, 48 catches for a high school TE shows some decent receiver skills. Now he's a very athletic 6'7" and 300 lbs. I don't see any downside to giving Svitek a shot at "big" TE before Oline.

An even bigger Jason Dunn, perchance?

[WebGem]

He went to brophy