It’s safe to say that senior wide receiver Dylan Sanagustin is more than willing to go with the flow and do whatever is necessary to help show the way for Kaneland.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Sanagustin, a rare third-year starter for a young, less experienced team, also is willing to adapt. He has stepped up to fill a leadership role this year for the Knights.
But back when he first made the early jump to varsity, he changed positions that season, too.
“I started seven of 11 games that year, playing the slot receiver,” Sanagustin said. “I was a running back for most of my football career coming up. Just running the ball felt a lot better.
“It was a little nerve wracking, but I think I handled it decently.”
He’s also handling this situation pretty decently. The Knights graduated plenty of veteran standouts from last year’s team that went 7-4 and gave the program six straight playoff qualifiers.
That group was led by four-year starters in quarterback Troyer Carlson (Wisconsin-Whitewater) and wide receiver Aric Johnson (Western Illinois), along with three-year starters in Tony and Dominick DeBlasio (McKendree) who filled roles at receiver and in the secondary.
“Those guys all pretty much taught me what I know about the position,” Sanagustin said of mentors Johnson and the DeBlasio twins.
Sanagustin played every receiver position last season, catching 14 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. In the spring, he even gave up baseball to take part in track, running sprints and relays and competing in the long jump, hoping to improve his speed for football.
“I didn’t make it to state, but at sectional, I just barely missed the qualifying times for the 100 and 200,” Sanagustin said. “It made me faster, which just gives me that much more of an edge.
“It definitely helps in football, gets me more involved in every little thing.”
The Knights have started strong, knocking off fellow 2023 playoff qualifiers Washington and Wauconda and rolling past DeKalb 42-7 last week.
Sanagustin is second on the team with eight catches for 113 yards and two TDs from senior Chase Kruckenberg, a first-year year starter at quarterback.
Junior receiver Brady Brown leads the team with 13 receptions for 148 yards and one TD.
“It was a transition, but Chase has worked really hard,” Sanagustin said. “He’s improved a lot and has really grown. He’s prepared in every way and mentally. He’s just very strong.
“I’m sure he was a little nervous in the first game, but he dealt with it, and I don’t believe he was nervous for this last game against DeKalb at all.”
And Sanagustin has expanded his role on the offense, revisiting an old skill by participating in Kaneland’s running game.
Sanagustin is second on the team in rushing with 23 carries for 131 yards and two more TDs. Junior running back Carter Grabowski leads with 50 carries for 246 yards and two TDs.
“He does it all,” second-year coach Mike Thorgesen said of Sanagustin. “We can motion him into the backfield, and he’s not limited to just jet sweeps. He had 11 carries last week against DeKalb and can run out of the backfield between the tackles.”
It’s like old times, according to Sangustin.
“Running back is always what I liked to do,” he said.
Pressed on the subject, however, he said he would list himself as a wide receiver on the roster.
“It’s a different experience,” he said. “It’s a lot more fun not getting hit every time.”
The most challenging part of a tough schedule, meanwhile, remains for the Knights, especially after this week’s game at Ottawa.
Morris (2-1), Sycamore (3-0) and Rochelle (3-0) go back-to-back-to-back on the docket, followed by LaSalle-Peru (2-1) and Belleville Althoff (3-0).
“We’re just focusing on the next one, though,” Sanagustin said. “We knew it would be tough, but if we worked hard, we could do something special this year.”
