Former NPHS star embraces new role in the NFL
Knee injury doesn't dampen Will Svitek's spirits
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS/Special to The Acorn LEARNING PROCESS- Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Will Svitek, No. 71, lines up at left tackle during a game against the St. Louis Rams. After playing defensive line and tight end in college, Svitek made the transition to offensive line during his first training camp in 2005.

Will Svitek knew he had to make the best out of a tough situation.

The Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman is in his second professional season, a once promising year that came to an abrupt end on Oct. 4 when Svitek suffered a knee injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve.

At the time of his setback, Svitek, a three-sport standout at Newbury Park High from 1997-2000, was battling for a starting spot on the Chiefs' offensive line.

He'd played both right and left tackle during the fourth week of the regular season against the San Francisco 49ers, but while preparing for a Week 5 showdown against the Arizona Cardinals, Svitek blew out the medial collateral ligament in his knee.

Rather than let the season-ending injury dampen his spirits, Svitek turned the disappointment into a positive.

"It's actually turned out to be a great thing, me going on injured reserve," Svitek said. "It stinks that you don't get to play because things were really looking bright.

"But I got a chance to rest my body. I'd been playing football for a year and a half straight, and my body was getting really beat down. It was probably the best thing for me to get healthy this year and get ready for next year."

Growing up in Newbury Park, where his parents still reside, Svitek showed awesome athletic prowess during his high school career.

As a senior he was named the Ventura County High School Athlete of the Year. In addition, CalHiSports.com honored Svitek as the California Division II Athlete of the Year. He was all-CIF as a defensive end and second-team all-state as a tight end.

"He was a very special kid," NPHS head coach George Hurley said. "He was always determined to be successful, and he always had a tremendous work ethic to back it up."

Svitek's talents didn't stop on the football field. He won a Marmonte League shot put title and was a twotime National Decathlon Champion. Furthermore, Svitek was a three-year letter winner in basketball and was named to the All-Ventura County team as a senior.

While at NPHS, Svitek also wrote an ongoing diary for the Thousand Oaks Acorn.

"I had a tremendous opportunity in high school to write for The Acorn," he said. "I was the first guy to ever do that. It was a lot of fun."

His many accomplishments on the field as well as in the classroom helped Svitek land a scholarship to Stanford, where he started 18 of the 38 games he appeared in during his career with the Cardinal. After graduating from Stanford with a degree in political science, Svitek was a sixth-round selection by the Chiefs during the 2005 NFL Draft.

Even before the draft was held, Svitek knew he'd probably be moved to the offensive line in the pros after talking with several league scouts. It was a transition he fully embraced.

"A lot of people said offensive line was my natural position, left tackle being my natural position in the NFL," he said. "Playing there was my best possibility of having a long career.

"I was open to it," Svitek said. "Whatever I needed to do to make myself have a career in the NFL, I was willing to do."

As expected, the transition from being a college defender and tight end to playing offensive tackle against the finest football players in the world was a harrowing experience early on.

"People have a tough time playing left tackle in the NFL when they've played the position their whole life," Svitek said. "For me to come in with absolutely zero experience, it was difficult at first. My head was spinning. I was just trying to survive."

Svitek was active for only one game during his rookie campaign with the Chiefs--a showdown against the rival Oakland Raiders midway through the season where he played special teams.

When the '05 season ended, Svitek was assigned to the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe, where he helped lead the team to the World Bowl XIV championship.

While with the Galaxy, Svitek continued his writing career with a diary featured on KCChiefs.com. It was titled "Postcards From Europe." He said playing overseas was an experience he'll never forget.

"The World Bowl game was an amazing atmosphere," Svitek said. "Games there are a combination between a rock concert, football game and a soccer match."

Svitek still keeps in contact with his former Newbury Park coaches, and he said he likes to visit the school when he's in town during the offseason. To this day, Svitek remains grateful toward the people that helped him develop into the player he is now.

"Playing three sports at Newbury Park--football, basketball and track-- made me a well-rounded athlete and really prepared me for playing in the NFL," he said.

"I never would have thought when I was at Newbury Park High School playing receiver that I'd one day be playing offensive line for the Kansas City Chiefs."