#45 Drake Kulick Season 2016-17

Hawk Item – – Earned undergraduate degree during spring semester of 2017 . . . moved from linebacker to fullback during fall, 2014 preseason . . . withheld from spring practice due to late season injury.

2017 Honors – – Academic All-Big Ten for second year . . . Comeback Player of the Year . . . 2017 – – Saw action at fullback in 24-3 win over Wyoming, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 44-41 OT win at Iowa State as offense gained 497 yards total offense . . . career-best two receptions at Iowa State for career-high 29 yards . . . started at fullback in 31-14 win over North Texas as offense gained 435 yards total offense, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 21-19 loss to #4 Penn State but had no statistics . . . saw action in 17-10 loss at Michigan State, but had no statistics . . . started at fullback in 45-16 win over Illinois, but had no statistics as offense gained 441 yards total offense . . . started at fullback in 17-10 OT loss at Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 17-10 win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 55-24 win over #3 Ohio State as offense gained 487 yards total offense . . . one reception for two-yard touchdown vs. Ohio State, first career touchdown . . . saw action in 38-14 loss at #6 Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 24-15 loss to Purdue, but had no statistics . . . started at fullback in 56-14 win at Nebraska as offense rushed for 313 yards and gained 505 yards total offense . . . one rushing attempt for one yard at Nebraska . . . saw action in 27-20 Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College . . . scored only rushing touchdown of career in final minutes of Pinstripe Bowl win with a one-yard run.

2016 Honors – – Academic All-Big Ten . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, special teams . . . 2016 – – Saw action in 12 games, missing bowl game due to injury . . . saw action in 45-21 win over Miami, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 42-3 win over Iowa State, but had no statistics as offense gained 435 yards total offense . . . started at fullback in 23-21 loss to North Dakota State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-7 win at Rutgers, but had no statistics . . .  started at fullback in 38-31 loss to Northwestern, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-7 win at Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 49-35 win at Purdue, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 365 net rushing yards and gained 520 yards total offense . . . started at fullback in 17-9 loss to #10 Wisconsin . . . recorded one kickoff return for 13 yards . . . started at fullback in 41-14 loss at #12 Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 14-13 win over #2 Michigan, but had no statistics . . . started at fullback in 28-0 win at Illinois, recording first rushing attempt of the season for one yard as offense rushed for 262 yards and gained 342 yards total offense . . . started at fullback in 40-10 win over #15 Nebraska, but suffered injury on first play of the game and did not return . . . did not see action in 30-3 Outback Bowl loss to #17 Florida due to injury.

2015 – – Did not see action in 31-14 win over Illinois State . . . saw action on special teams in 31-17 win at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 27-24 win over Pitt, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 62-16 win over North Texas, recording one solo tackle . . . saw action on special teams in 10-6 win at Wisconsin, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 29-20 win over Illinois, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 40-10 win at Northwestern as offense rushed for 294 yards and gained 492 yards total offense . . . rushed three times for eight yards and had one reception for 22 yards at Northwestern while collecting first career statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 31-15 win over Maryland, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 35-27 win at Indiana, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 40-35 win over Minnesota, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 40-20 win over Purdue, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 28-20 win at Nebraska, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 16-13 loss to Michigan State, but had no statistics . . . saw action on special teams in 45-16 Rose Bowl loss to Stanford, but had no statistics.

2014 – – Did not see any game action.

2013 – – Redshirted after joining program as a walk-on.

High school honors – – Earned all-state honors as a senior . . . first team all-conference as a linebacker and wide receiver as a senior . . . second team all-conference as a junior . . . Career – – Helped prep team advance to state playoffs three straight seasons . . . team captain as a senior . . . recorded 85 tackles as a senior, with 6.5 QB sacks and one interception . . . also had 47 receptions for 600 yards, with six receiving and seven rushing touchdowns . . . recorded 100 tackles as a junior, with five QB sacks, two interceptions and one touchdown . . . also lettered in track and swimming, competing in 200-free relay at state swimming championships.

Personal – – Born 10/06/94 . . . exercise science major . . . earned academic All-America recognition as a prep . . . parents are Teresa and Leo Kulick . . . high school coach was Jake Mueller.