Prewett ready to end the wait
Kaleb Prewett stood by the south field end zone with his shoulder pads off and his arms folded, waiting to be approached by the media following Tuesday's football practice at Faurot Field. Starting quarterback Drew Lock received most of the attention up to that point, but Prewett didn't mind waiting an extra few minutes for his time in the spotlight.
After all, he's used to waiting.
Prewett, a three-star safety recruit from Blue Springs, committed to Kansas State in 2013, despite holding offers from Oklahoma State and Missouri. Prewett had family ties to Kansas State. His dad went to school there, and the younger Prewett grew up rooting for the Wildcats.
It initially looked as if Prewett made the right choice. He contributed early on his freshman season and carried that momentum into his sophomore year, playing in eight games and starting six before suffering a season-ending wrist injury in week nine.
"I learned a lot at K-State under Bill Snyder and their coaching staff," Prewett said. "They really set a good foundation for me, I think, just some work ethic and all that good stuff."
Perhaps it was that foundation that allowed him to pursue a new challenge: Playing football in the Southeastern Conference.
Prewett said he sat down following that 2015 season and contemplated his future. There wasn't a specific moment that led to his decision to transfer, and it wasn't because of a lack of playing time with the Wildcats, but he wanted to explore his transfer options. His decision was surprising to some, including his friends and family, but he said he chose to do what he thought was best for him.
Missouri, his No. 2 school in high school after Kansas State, was high on his list. That, coupled with playing in the SEC made the two a perfect match.
"I just felt like it was a good move for me, to come to Columbia," Prewett said. "Now I'm happy to be here."
Prewett has two years of eligibility remaining at Missouri, but he was forced to sit out the entire 2016 season, per NCAA rules. It was the first time he missed a truly extended period of time and said the waiting motivated him to make an impact in his first season with Missouri.
"When you're not playing and you're just practicing — being a practice dummy — it just makes you hungry," Prewett said. "Especially seeing all of our guys out there working and balling. We have a lot of good players in the secondary. It just really made me want to come out here and just work even harder to compete for a spot or earn my own spot."
In Spring practice, Prewett has rotated with the first and second team safeties, but more recently, he's received time at nickel. Barry Odom said he sees Prewett learning and maturing, despite the fact that he's been asked to do so much.
Defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross said based on the teams Missouri sees and the offense the team will play, Prewett will have a role.
"We need to have him on the field," Cross said. "He's a guy that we were all kind of eager to have on the team. Now that we have a chance to work him in with the ones and twos, he's going to probably have a little bit bigger role than he anticipated. But we still got a few practices left to see exactly where we need to play him."
Prewett said he's comfortable in any role they ask him to play. He thinks he can contribute at nickel because his size (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) allows him to come down in the box, help out defenders and be a versatile weapon on the defense. He also said he loves playing his more natural position of safety because it allows him to get a running start before he hits opposing players.
Just ask Drew Lock about Prewett's love for the body-jarring hit.
While Prewett waited to be interviewed on Tuesday, Lock was a few feet away, talking about facing Prewett when the two were in high school.
Lock's Lee's Summit team ran a dive play on the goal-line that was immediately sniffed out by the Prewett and the Blue Springs defense. Lock had to improvise, so he kept the ball and headed toward the sideline. But Prewett was there to deliver a shot that Missouri's junior quarterback will always remember.
"He probably hit me the hardest I've ever been hit in high school football," he said, smiling. "He came right over the top and smacked me."
When told about the story, Prewett immediately knew of the play.
"I do what I can," Prewett said, flashing a cocky smirk when asked about the play. "I'd probably have to transfer again if I hit Drew (now)."
Safe to say he hopes that isn't the case. Waiting once was enough.