Kevin Rader, TE, YSU

2016 (Junior) | Game-By-Game Stats

Played in all 16 games and started 13 contests…caught 17 passes for 285 yards and two scores…averaged 16.8 yards per catch…none of his grabs were bigger than a one-handed catch in the back of the end zone with a second remaining to help the Penguins defeat Eastern Washington in the FCS semifinals…in the waning seconds, he pinned a pass from Hunter Wells against the back shoulder of an EWU defender and tumbled to the ground for a score on the game’s final play…replay reviewed the play and put one second back on the clock, but the catch stood…following the game Rader was interviewed live on SportsCenter and had that day’s SC Top 10 No. 1 play…social media of the catch received incredible reaction from all over the world…appeared on Sports Center on the next working, as his sister works for ESPN…in the game against EWU had a career-high three catches for 34 yards…also helped setup the game-winning drive with a seven-yard kickoff return, the first of his career…caught passes in 12 games…had two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown against Robert Morris…caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Trent Hosick in the second quarter…also had a 35-yard catch in the game…caught two passes for 33 yards against South Dakota…had two receptions for 26 yards against Robert Morris…had a season-long 41-yard reception in win over Samford…caught a pass for a 29-yard gain vs. James Madison in the National Championship Game…had six catches in the playoffs for 112 yards…in MVFC play caught six passes for 70 yards…earned his third letter.

2015 (Sophomore): Played in all 11 games and made two starts…started in three tight-end sets against Indiana State and Illinois State…caught two passes for 44 yards…had a season-long 23-yard grab against Missouri State…caught a 21-yard reception against Saint Francis (Pa.)…also a member of special teams units (punt and kickoff return)…earned his second letter.

2014 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in five games as a reserve on the defensive line…had a solo tackle in win over Saint Francis…earned his first letter.

2013: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played tight end and defensive end at Pine-Richland…was an all-conference selection as a defensive end…coach was Clair Altemus.

PERSONAL: Parents are Janet and Eric Rader…has a brother and a sister…major is management…is the 2017-18 recipient of the William Wallace Watson Scholarship.

Rader likely will be on the ‘radar’ of NFL teams as the season continues and his level of play follows on that upward swing.

He looks the part and moves extremely well in space for a 6-foot-5 and 250 pound tight end. Rader has a thick athletic frame which allows him to be a factor in the run and pass game.

Against the Pitt Panthers he was able to show his vertical threat ability and held his own versus their defensive front. Pleasantly surprised by his performance against the Panthers and MVFC accolades should be in order at the end of the season.