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Senior linebacker Kepa Gaison first joined the Utes in 2005. As a redshirt freshman who didn’t see any action his first season in Utah, Gaison had big moves in his future that no one could have foreseen.
In high school in Hawaii, Gaison was part of a state championship-winning team his senior year, but he played a much different role than the one he now fills at the U. At the Kamehameha School, Gaison was a punter and spent some time on the offensive line.
“My high school experience was great,” Gaison said. “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and it set me up for my college experience.”
When Gaison finished high school, he knew he wasn’t finished with football. In hopes that he could continue his football career, Gaison came to Utah as a walk-on punter. In that position, Gaison wasn’t what the coaching staff was looking for, but another opportunity came for him to stay on with the Utes, and he jumped at it.
“(Gaison) wanted to walk on here, he just never really got the opportunity in high school to just show what he can do, as far as an athlete,” said defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake. “When he came here, he got into our off-season conditioning program, and we just saw him working with the scouts, and he was doing some really good things.”
Utah’s defense had a gap, and Gaison turned out to be just what the Utes were missing.
The coaching staff was getting ready to do more recruiting for the defense when it realized it already had someone who would be perfect for the job, Sitake said.
“We saw a lot of his tools, his work ethic, just his toughness,” Sitake said. “(That) was a huge thing for us. We saw that as a great asset for our defense.”
The decision to move Gaison from punter to linebacker turned out to be the right one. In 2007, after a redshirt season and a season playing on the scout teams, Gaison was awarded a scholarship and finally saw some action in his new position.
Playing in 12 games, Gaison worked for a sack and 13 tackles, including two for losses. In the 2007 Holy War in Provo, he claimed three tackles and a sack. He also
recovered a fumble
against New Mexico and was named an Academic All-Mountain West Conference athlete.
Gaison said he always thought of the move from punter to linebacker as just a move until he started getting recognized for his toughness on the field.
“I never really thought it was that big of a deal, but when I sit and think about it, it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of thing,” Gaison said. “You don’t really hear about many people punting and moving to linebacker. It’s been a great learning experience for me.”
After just one season of real playing time, Gaison helped the Utes claim another undefeated season and a Bowl Championship Series victory against No. 4 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He became a fan favorite against the Crimson Tide, setting a solid example of the toughness and discipline Utah’s defense has become known for. He tied his career high of
six tackles in New Orleans, five of them solo, and earned two sacks for a total loss of 12 yards in the Utes’ 31-17 win.
“Kepa’s a great player; I love having him here,” Sitake said. “He’s a perfect teammate and a great leader. You look at his background, the
way he got here, and it just proves that hard work can get you anywhere from back-up to walk-on punter, to a starting spot on a Division-1 team that’s nationally ranked.”
And Gaison’s hard work has paid off on more than just the turf.
As a senior at the U, Gaison is finishing up his marketing degree and will graduate in May. With 15 credit hours to squeeze in between workouts, film and practices, Gaison describes his schedule as “crazy.”
“It’s been rough just keeping up with the classes and finding time to do homework, while at the same time, studying up on my football plays and studying film on opponents,” he said. “It’s a really hard thing to keep up with, but…you figure out a way to make it work. You gotta get it done either way. It’s just what comes with being a college athlete. It’s one of those things that you’ve got to get accustomed to.”
Gaison said coming to Utah and playing college football has been a change of pace from life in Hawaii. Without warm weather or the beaches to head to during the offseason, Gaison said he doesn’t know what to do with his down time but enjoys being around his teammates, even when they’ve got nothing to do.
“The best part about it is just being able to hang out with the other guys and just the camaraderie,” he said.
As part of a close-knit family, Gaison said seeing extended family was a part of everyday life.
“My family was always around,” he said. “It was a neat thing to be a part of.”
With an ocean and several states between him and his family, Gaison said it’s been difficult being so far away, but he has had a good experience being in a different culture than the one he was used to.
“Hawaii is a completely different culture, a completely different lifestyle from Utah,” he said. “To be able to experience it…my family is glad I chose this place. It’s been a great ride. I couldn’t complain.”
Sitake said Gaison has played a big part in the Utes’ success during the past few seasons and been a consistent motivator and leader for his teammates.
“(Gaison) is like another coach on the field,” Sitake said. “He knows the whole defense, he understands football, and if he ever wanted to, he’d be a great coach.”
With less than half a season to go with the Utes, Gaison said the experience of being part of Utah’s football program has been unbelievable.
m our records to the recruits we get in, just everything the program has been through…it’s been an incredible experience for me to be a part of it,” Gaison said. “I couldn’t have asked for more.”
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