ONALASKA — Aiden Knopp remembers the trepidation that accompanied Onalaska High School football coach Tom Yashinsky making him a starting right tackle as a sophomore.
Knopp stood 6 feet, 2 inches and weighed 220 pounds when he took over a key role for an electric offense that ended up averaging 335 yards, and 32 points per game while tying Central for the MVC championship and winning two WIAA Division 3 playoff games.
“I was very timid as a sophomore, and it was kind of scary,” Knopp said on his team’s practice field on Tuesday. “Those other guys were old. Eighteen-year-olds? They were grown adults.”
Knopp’s athleticism is what separated him from the pack two years ago, and everything he has done to improve as a tackle has earned him an opportunity to play football at Division II Minnesota State-Mankato after graduation.
Now an inch taller and 50 pounds heavier than when he was made a starter, Knopp is a leader with all-conference experience as the Hilltoppers try to turn their offensive line into a strength that can lead to another successful MVC season.
“I think his biggest jump this season will be in his aggressiveness and knowledge of the scheme,” Yashinsky said of Knopp, who earned honorable mention to last year’s All-MVC teams. “We changed what we did last year and there probably was some teaching that could have been done better by (coaches).
“So he didn’t play to his full potential last year, and I think we’re in a spot now where we can see how high that ceiling is for him this year.”
The Hilltoppers, who were part of a four-way tie for the MVC title last year,shifted offensive emphasis from 2023 to 2024. After passing for 2,491 yards when Knopp was a sophomore, they rushed for 2,234 yards during his junior season. Onalaska is preparing to push its running game again this fall.
Senior Vitaliano Figueroa also returns with experience at left guard, and, while seniors Grady Dunnum and Sheldon Wright and juniors Grant Palmer and Yingkong Vang all contend for snaps.
Yashinsky said coaches have made sure those players received plenty of practice snaps last season during a process that aims for continuity.
“We feel good,” Yashinsky said, “but we understand there are some unknowns in there.”
Knopp, who plans to major in some form of engineering — mechanical is the leader in the clubhouse — at Mankato, is embracing the leadership role that accompanies his experience but takes the approach that he is simply a resource for teammates.
“I’m taking a step back and just letting them do a lot of the practice and take the initiative (to learn),” Knopp said. “I try to give them ideas and push them — I’m not going to be easy on them — but also be there to lift them up when they make mistakes.”
Practice, he said, is the place to make mistakes, and Knopp admits to many of them while becoming the player he is.
Yashinsky said there were discussions about moving Knopp to left tackle for his senior season, but that it made more sense to keep him on the right side with the new starters coming on board.
“I’m happy staying at right tackle because I’ve been there for two years, and I feel confident there,” Knopp said. “But if I need to go to left tackle, I’m OK with that. Whatever is best for the team.”
Knopp said he is also looking forward to playing some defensive end. His primary focus will be as an offensive player, but the athleticism gave coaches another option to use his skills.
“I won’t be out there all the time (defensively),” Knopp said. “Defense is a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to going out there and hitting people.”
