Photo by: Thomas Campbell/Texas A&M Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: Preparing for the Moment
Sep 18, 2017 | Football
Kellen Mond's sureness in himself at the QB position has been building almost his entire life.
It's understandable for a true freshman starting at quarterback to be overwhelmed.
But Kellen Mond has a quiet confidence about him.
His sureness in himself at the position has been building almost his entire life.
"He always threw the ball since the age of two," says Kevin Mond, Kellen's father.
Kellen's been molding himself into an elite quarterback since then. Dad was a big help, teaching him the position from a different angle.
"I was never a quarterback," says Kevin. "I was a receiver. I had Kellen hit different targets and I'd tell him what a receiver wanted. I taught from a wide receiver point of view because that's what I knew."
Kellen has engrained himself into the position. Pressure moments aren't too big for him. Nothing in his past has been.
As a sophomore at San Antonio's Reagan High School, he subbed into the season opener and nearly pulled off a spectacular come-from-behind victory. He became the starter the next week, and went the next 11 games without throwing an interception.
He's protected the ball ever since. His senior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, he went until week nine without an interception.
Saturday, he threw his first collegiate pick. However, he went right back to taking care of the football while tossing two touchdowns and rushing for another the rest of the game. He helped lead his team to victory.
Another trait from his past he carried with him to Aggieland.
From fifth grade to his senior year—seven years of football—he only lost twice as a starting QB.
Kellen Mond went all-in on becoming a premier quarterback. He is now a natural.
"He came to camp a couple years ago," recounts Kevin Sumlin. "He drove from San Antonio, got out of the car, and didn't need this whole training situation where you run around and stretch and all that."
Sumlin was impressed with what transpired. Mond didn't need a few minutes to warm up. He'd been preparing since he was in diapers.
"He threw about three footballs, then went to work," states the Aggies' head coach. "For the next 20 minutes (he) was very accurate. (Ran) real fast, (was) long and athletic. Then he got back in the car and went to the next camp."
To become truly elite, Kellen Mond decided to enroll in IMG for his senior year. He'd practice against the best day in and day out.
"I'm an ex-military guy," says Kevin. "I've lived the life of being away. When he mentioned he wanted to go, we really didn't think twice. We'd do it again."
With the Ascenders, Mond rose to one of the top high school quarterbacks in America.
"The ability to leave home, and go there and stay for a year, I think it's helped him mature a lot," Sumlin said.
"The first week he's at IMG, I called him," Kevin Mond remembers. "I said, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'Laundry.' I said, 'Welcome to the real world'."
Kellen's growth has led to a belief in himself. That quiet confidence has carried him to this point. Now, starting for the Aggies, with SEC play on the horizon, he'll have to continue to…ascend.
"He's got to step outside himself," said Sumlin, "and be more than just a guy who plays…be a vocal leader."
The head coach made that statement before August camp.
Kellen Mond is answering that challenge.
He must take it to the next level to win games in a rugged league.
His passion for the position is on display. As grand as Kyle Field, AT&T Stadium and the SEC it can get, it won't be too much for Kellen Mond.
For basically his whole life, he's prepared for this moment.
But Kellen Mond has a quiet confidence about him.
His sureness in himself at the position has been building almost his entire life.
"He always threw the ball since the age of two," says Kevin Mond, Kellen's father.
Kellen's been molding himself into an elite quarterback since then. Dad was a big help, teaching him the position from a different angle.
"I was never a quarterback," says Kevin. "I was a receiver. I had Kellen hit different targets and I'd tell him what a receiver wanted. I taught from a wide receiver point of view because that's what I knew."
Kellen has engrained himself into the position. Pressure moments aren't too big for him. Nothing in his past has been.
As a sophomore at San Antonio's Reagan High School, he subbed into the season opener and nearly pulled off a spectacular come-from-behind victory. He became the starter the next week, and went the next 11 games without throwing an interception.
He's protected the ball ever since. His senior year at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, he went until week nine without an interception.
Saturday, he threw his first collegiate pick. However, he went right back to taking care of the football while tossing two touchdowns and rushing for another the rest of the game. He helped lead his team to victory.
.@thekellenmond was 21-of-34 for 301 yards in the win. Here's a look at his 3 touchdown passes. #12thMan #ULLvsTAMU pic.twitter.com/nAcJIsLnXK
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) September 16, 2017
Another trait from his past he carried with him to Aggieland.
From fifth grade to his senior year—seven years of football—he only lost twice as a starting QB.
Kellen Mond went all-in on becoming a premier quarterback. He is now a natural.
"He came to camp a couple years ago," recounts Kevin Sumlin. "He drove from San Antonio, got out of the car, and didn't need this whole training situation where you run around and stretch and all that."
Sumlin was impressed with what transpired. Mond didn't need a few minutes to warm up. He'd been preparing since he was in diapers.
"He threw about three footballs, then went to work," states the Aggies' head coach. "For the next 20 minutes (he) was very accurate. (Ran) real fast, (was) long and athletic. Then he got back in the car and went to the next camp."
To become truly elite, Kellen Mond decided to enroll in IMG for his senior year. He'd practice against the best day in and day out.
"I'm an ex-military guy," says Kevin. "I've lived the life of being away. When he mentioned he wanted to go, we really didn't think twice. We'd do it again."
With the Ascenders, Mond rose to one of the top high school quarterbacks in America.
"The ability to leave home, and go there and stay for a year, I think it's helped him mature a lot," Sumlin said.
"The first week he's at IMG, I called him," Kevin Mond remembers. "I said, 'What are you doing?' He said, 'Laundry.' I said, 'Welcome to the real world'."
Kellen's growth has led to a belief in himself. That quiet confidence has carried him to this point. Now, starting for the Aggies, with SEC play on the horizon, he'll have to continue to…ascend.
"He's got to step outside himself," said Sumlin, "and be more than just a guy who plays…be a vocal leader."
The head coach made that statement before August camp.
Kellen Mond is answering that challenge.
"He's gotten better. He's more comfortable, he's more assertive." -@CoachSumlin on @thekellenmond #12thMan #ULLvsTAMU pic.twitter.com/ldcsYNWLnS
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) September 16, 2017
He must take it to the next level to win games in a rugged league.
His passion for the position is on display. As grand as Kyle Field, AT&T Stadium and the SEC it can get, it won't be too much for Kellen Mond.
For basically his whole life, he's prepared for this moment.
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