Despite only playing football for a few years, senior Silvestre Janovec is already one of the most vocal leaders that head coach Drew Steffen has ever coached.
That’s the reason Steffen nominated Janovec for the award the senior linebacker received last Sunday: the Kansas City Chiefs’ selection for NFL Latino Youth Honors.
The program recognizes outstanding Latino high school seniors for their academic and football achievements. Each NFL team selects two nominees from its region. From those 64 nominees, eight finalists will receive grants and participate in events at Super Bowl LIX. The finalists will be announced at a later date.
Steffen said the Chiefs reached out to area coaches for their recommendations, and he didn’t hesitate to submit Janovec’s name.
“Silvy is probably one of the greatest kids I’ve been around, not only in our school, but in all my years teaching and coaching,” Steffen said. “He’s great in the classroom. He’s a leader in our school. He’s a leader on our football team.”
Janovec found out Steffen had recommended him at an early morning August practice. It was 6:30 a.m. and the pair were the only people in the gym. Because it was so early, Janovec said he didn’t think much of it right away. But as it sunk in what his coach had nominated him for, it made him want to keep improving.
It wasn’t until last week that Janovec found out the Chiefs had selected him.
“It just made me want to work harder,” Janovec said. “It made me want to achieve more things this season.”
Janovec spent the game on the sideline and sitting near players’ families. He was recognized as a part of the Chiefs’ Latino Heritage Month celebration.
“It inspired me to be a little more like them on the field,” Janovec said. “It was just cool.”
Steffen said he chose Janovec because of his ability to set a good example both on and off the field. Aside from being a vocal leader of the defense, Steffen gets to see Janovec’s work off the field throughout the year. Steffen teaches special education and Janovec is one of his student mentors.
“Not only is he a leader on a football field, and in my opinion, an extremely talented football player,” Steffen said, “but he’s passionate about helping others that, no fault of their own, just have daily struggles. And he sees that as an opportunity to lead and help people.”
When a Spanish teacher was on maternity leave, Janovec, who is bilingual, jumped in to help. He helps out at the school front office and assists fellow students.
“He’s just one of the best kids in our school,” Steffen said. “And we’ve got a whole bunch of really, really good ones, but he kind of, in my opinion, sets himself apart from others.”
Janovec said he doesn’t think too hard about balancing responsibilities on and off the field, preferring to try and give his best effort wherever he is at any given time.
“When I’m at school, I try to be a good student,” he said. “When I’m a football player, I only focus on football. I try to do my best at both.”
Despite only playing football since his sophomore year, Steffen said the game seemed to click for Janovec.
Janovec said he takes his role as a leader seriously and focuses on setting a good example for younger players.
“I just try to do the right things,” Janovec said. “Pick up after myself, I guess, do the little things like try a little harder at practice. I just feel like I have to be a big brother to my teammates.”
One of Janovec’s teammates, senior Errol Siemon, said the linebacker is someone who always brings energy and positivity no matter where he is. Siemon said that makes him a great role model for the whole football team.
“He’s a great guy and always very positive no matter what,” Simen said. “He always wants the best for everybody and is willing to do anything to help them achieve.”
As Janovec looks ahead, he said his primary focus isn’t wins and losses, but making sure his teammates are happy and having fun together.
Steffen said he has coached many strong leaders at the linebacker position, but Janovec’s vocal leadership is as good as anyone he’s coached.
He said Janovec is a good example for younger players about the necessity of balancing your priorities in football and in life outside of sports.
“I hope they see, from a human being standpoint, that you can be big and strong and go hit people and play with an edge on football on the field, but at some point, football is going to be over,” Steffen said. “It’s about how you treat people you’re around.
“If we had 60 Silvys on our football team, we’d win a lot of football games. But, man, we would be sending some great people out into our society.”
Reach reporter Cuyler Dunn at [email protected]
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