Kyle Wickersham is a junior quarterback for Archbishop Rummel, in Metairie, LA. The 6’3 225lbs gunslinger has led his team, the Raiders, to an impressive 12-0 season. If the name Wickersham sounds familiar, that might be because of his father Jeff, the third all-time career passer at LSU. Kyle looks to be following in the footsteps of his father, going 118 of 198 for 1,379 yards and 16 touchdowns with just six interceptions and completing nearly 60 percent of his passes on the year. The big bodied junior also added four more touchdowns on the ground this season.
When did you start playing football?
I started playing when I was about five years old, at the playground by my house. My dad would always bring me outside to throw the football around, and we would have neighborhood games. I really just grew up around football my entire life.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Yes sir, I played lacrosse, I played basketball, I played baseball, and volley ball. I found that playing so many sports, in the long run, is going to help you with the sport you are going to end up playing in the long run, and in the future. If you are a well-rounded athlete, it helps you at every sport.
So being from the Metairie area is lacrosse a new thing for you?
Yes sir, so a coach came into my school, I went to Christian Brothers School in New Orleans, and he brought lacrosse to the school and he asked me to come play. I was like ‘yeah, I’ll try it out’, it was kind of a new thing in New Orleans, and everyone was trying it out. I only played for that one year, then it got to be too much and began to interfere with baseball and basketball. That was my sixth grade year.
What do you love about football?
I love the brotherhood with all your teammates. It’s like you’re with your family every single day. I love how every single week is preparing for one game. It’s not just game after game, you really have to put your whole heart into that game plan in order to win. There is nothing better than being on the field, having 15,000 people in the stands watching you, and you’re just out there with your brothers to win the game.
Coming into the season, what were some of the goals you set for yourself?
I set a goal of not hurting my team with anything I do. Not turning the ball over a lot, being very precise in my reads, and just win games. That was my main goal, our whole entire team’s goal is to win State. So as long as we’re winning games, I feel like I am doing my job, and the team feels like they’re doing their job.
So far it seems like you’re living up to those goals.
Yes sir, so far.
What style of play do you think best describes you?
I would say, a Field General. I am very careful with my reads, I don’t make many mistakes, when it comes to throwing interceptions, or turning the ball over. We have the best defense in the country, there is no reason for me to try to force anything. I can go through my reads, I make the right reads, and I would say that is how my game is.
Who do you think are some of your biggest influences?
Well, my dad is definitely my biggest influence. He has been coaching me ever since I picked up a football. That is how he raised me, he taught me ‘you’re the quarterback, and you gotta take all the blame, with all the honor.’ I realized after the season, you get all the blame if stuff goes wrong, and you get all the praise if stuff goes right. So he has been my biggest role model.
Speaking a little bit of quarterback, have you always played that position, or did you play any other positions growing up?
No sir, this is my first year ever playing quarterback. I was always a middle linebacker or running back. They always wanted me to run the ball, those previous places I have been, we really didn’t throw the ball. So they always wanted me to play running back, and mostly linebacker.
Do you feel attitude is a factor in winning?
Yes sir, I think it’s 100% attitude. You take one play off and you can easily lose a game in one play. I think you have to have the mindset of every single play is just as important as the last play of the game. I think you have to have a mindset of any team can come out and beat you, don’t ever come out and get too cocky, or too complacent. You just have to go out and keep working hard.
What do you think is a strength in your game play?
I think a strength is, don’t let anything rattle me. I think I’m pretty confident when it comes to taking hits. I’m tough when it comes to getting through bad things that might happen during the game. I’m able to kind of bury my head and push through it. That’s also all credit to my teammates, they never get on me for anything, if I make a mistake, they are always encouraging me. That is just the type of team that we are, that is why we are so successful.
Being this is your first year at quarterback, what do you think is one thing you have excelled at on the field?
One thing I think I have excelled at throughout the games is just getting comfortable. Really staying comfortable in the pocket, you know seeing that the first read is not there and just trying to take off. Now I am going through my reads, and making the right read. That is something that I have been able to excel throughout the year with. That is the coaching that we have here (at Rummel) as well. They have really helped me with that this season, with that aspect.
Over this season, do you think that the speed of the game has slowed down for you?
Oh yes, 100 percent! The first game I went out there, against St. Paul’s, it wasn’t even a game, it was just a jamboree. It felt like bullets were flying, and going in against St. Aug. who is a very fast team, bringing the blitz. I felt like I was sitting back there for four seconds each play, just because of how much confidence I have gotten this season, how many plays I have gotten. The first time going back to quarterback, everything moves faster than practice. So it was just getting used to the game speed.
So a little fun question I like to ask everyone, what is your go to song in the locker room?
The one song I have to listen to before a game is probably ‘Handsome and Wealthy’ by Migos. Gotta listen to it.
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