Proving that hard work pays, a pair of persistent walk-ons from south central Nebraska have earned starting spots on the Chadron State College defense for this fall.

Senior Kelen Kahrs will start at an outside linebacker spot and junior Justin Trout will be a starting end for the Eagles when they open the season at home on Saturday against the University of Mary.

 “They’re our type of players,” said defensive coordinator Todd Auer, who has many good things to say about the ex-Franklin Flyers.

“They’re both tough, hard-nosed guys who go 100 miles an hour,” Auer said with a gleam in his eye. “They’re the type of players we depend on year-after-year to make us become a good team. They make the most of their athletic ability and have worked hard to be the best they can be.”

Both Kahrs and Trout said they left high school hoping they could play college football, but knew it wouldn’t be easy. Neither was offered a scholarship, but the Chadron State coaches invited them to walk on. Now, they’ve both made the grade.

The pair have numerous similarities besides a great work ethic and lots of desire. Both are range management majors, both have gained about 40 pounds since they were freshmen and increased their bench press by around 85 pounds.

Both also have lowered their times in the 40-yard dash significantly. Both also were four-year starters in high school.

The latter statement is not quite true for Kahrs, who is now 6-foot-1, 210 pounds. That’s because he was robbed of most of his senior year with the Flyers by a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

The injury occurred during the second game of the season. The year before, he’d earned all-conference and all-district honors while playing linebacker and fullback.

“It was really disappointing when I got hurt because we expected to have a really good team that fall,” Kahrs said. “I was one of four players who were lost for the season in the first four games.”

After having surgery, Kahrs recovered in time to qualify for the state wrestling tournament for the fourth consecutive year and he also ran track again his senior year, although he had to give up the 300-meter hurdles that had been his best event prior to the injury.

“I’d heard about the Chadron State football program and came up for a visit,” Kahrs said. “I thought it would be a good fit for me. When I got here in the fall and saw so many bigger players I kind of wondered what I had gotten myself into, but before long everything started clicking. I’ve just kept working and trying to get better.”

Last year, when three seniors started at the Eagles’ linebacker positions, Kahrs played in every game and participated in 12 tackles. During the spring he emerged as a probable starter for this season and solidified that status during preseason drills the past two weeks.

Besides starting at one of the outside linebacker positions, he is expected to see action in the middle at times while giving starter James Belville a break.

In addition, this fall he’s expected to be on two or three of the special teams.

Trout said Kahrs encouraged him to also join the Eagles when he began thinking about playing college football. 

“He kept telling me how he liked it here and said I should come here, too,” said Trout, who is 5-10, 240 pounds.

Trout had an excellent senior year in high school, leading the Flyers in tackles, earning all-conference and all-district honors as well as all-state honorable mention while playing middle linebacker.

While he didn’t get a football scholarship, it helped that because of his strong academic record he received a Gold Presidential Scholarship that would pay his tuition for four years if he did well at CSC academically. He has a 3.76 cumulative GPA and has been on the honors lists all six semesters.

“I had some discouraging times when I was a freshman, but I figured if Kelen could stick with it and make the team, I could, too,” Trout said. “I knew I was undersized and would have to get a lot stronger. I worked hard in the weight room. I didn’t know if I’d ever start, but figured I could at least be someone who contributed.”

The hard work has paid off. He recently bench pressed 405 pounds and last winter he ran the 40 in 4.98 seconds.

Like Kahrs, Trout said he saw action all of the Eagles’ 11 games last fall, although a few times he was on the field for only a handful of plays while filling in for senior Jay Meduna.

Last spring, Auer said he was concerned about who was going to take over the starting spot, but the coach now says he’s seen enough during the preseason that he’s expects Trout to do well there.

“He’s worked hard to get ready (to start) and has a great motor. He’ll do fine,” Auer said.

Both players think they’ll be a part of a solid unit this fall. “We’re a little undersized, but we’ve got a lot of speed,” said Trout.

Kahrs agreed and said he’s excited to have landed a starting nod his senior year. “I know I’m going to be pretty pumped up on Saturday,” he said.

Both say they have enjoyed their time at CSC. “Coming here was the best decision we ever made,” Trout said. “We like our classes and you feel like you’re a part of the community because of the great support the college receives. I know I have greatly enjoyed my time here.”

Kahrs nodded in agreement and said he also likes the team’s unity and the encouragement he has received from the coaches.

—Con Marshall