Will Rajecki, Sequoyah running back
Today’s interviewee is Sequoyah running back Will Rajecki, who has been a key contributor to the eighth-ranked Chiefs’ 4-0 start with his 648 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Rajecki had more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage for Sequoyah’s 11-2 team last season. In June, Rajecki committed to Memphis, where he plans to bring his physical, versatile running style to the next level. Ahead of tonight’s Region 6-5A game with sixth-ranked Sprayberry, Rajecki talked about recruiting, family, faith and football.
1. How would you describe yourself as a football player, and is there a player you try to model your game after? “I’d say I’m a tough, physical running back with good vision who knows how to finish runs. One of my biggest strengths is catching the ball out of the backfield. I get this comparison a lot, but I really do try to model my game after Christian McCaffrey. His impact as both a runner and a receiver is something I admire and try to bring to my own game.”
2. Your grandfather, Peter Rajecki, was a well-known kicker at Georgia. Did you grow up a Georgia fan? Did they recruit you? Of course, you’ve picked Memphis. How did they first get your attention? “I picked Memphis because they showed love early, and they stayed consistent throughout the whole recruiting process. The coaches made it clear that they see me as someone who can come in, run the ball, catch it out of the backfield and make an impact right away as a freshman. It all started when coaches were coming through our school looking at some of our other top recruits. My coach pulled them aside and said, ‘This guy’s pretty good too.’ One of the Memphis coaches ended up calling me out of class to talk. We stayed in touch after that visit, and everything just built from there.
“Yeah, I definitely grew up a Georgia fan because of my Grandpa. He passed away when I was about 9, but he had a big influence on our family. Georgia’s always been on my radar, and they’ve stayed in touch a little bit, but Memphis just felt like the right fit. What stood out about Memphis is that they believed in me from the beginning. That really meant a lot. I'm still open to opportunities, but I’m pretty set on them for now.” [Peter Rajecki was born in West Germany and nicknamed the Bootin’ Teuton while at Georgia, where he was the kicker on the Bulldogs' 1968 SEC championship team. Ironically, Peter Rajecki was a Sprayberry graduate.]
3. What does Sequoyah need to do to beat Sprayberry this time around? Last year wasn’t your best game - what went wrong, and what’s different now? “We’ve got to stay disciplined, limit our mistakes and bring intensity for all four quarters. Last year, I didn’t play my best, and I don’t think the team did either. Sprayberry took advantage of that. But this year, we’re stronger, more experienced and more prepared for the moment. We’re ready to go out there and play our game.”
4. What do you like to do when you’re not playing football? Any hobbies or other things you enjoy? “I love being outdoors. That’s probably my favorite thing to do outside of football. I really enjoy fishing, golfing and just spending time with family and friends. I also like going to church. My faith is a big part of who I am.”
