CENTER OF STRENGTH: KEVIN TOOTE’S FOOTBALL JOURNEY

Kevin Toote's football journey is best characterized by adaptation, determination, and domination. From upstate New York to Division II Pace University and now anchoring the Vegas Knight Hawks offensive line in the IFL, he has overcome and excelled despite every position change, setback, and injury.

"I played both sides of the line in high school." Toote recalled. "I came out as a defensive lineman but got moved to offensive line immediately when I got to college."

Where many players would balk at changing positions, Toote took on the challenge to adjust his game, shifting from the defensive mindset he had in high school to the highly technical demands of playing college-level offensive line.

"I was a short tackle, but I got noticed. I ended up earning a starting spot before the first game my freshman year at right guard."

It wasn't until his senior year that Toote transitioned once again, this time to center.

"They told me, 'Yo, we need you to play center.' I had to learn how to snap, make calls, command the line - everything changed."

That shift became a defining moment of his career.

His responsibilities shifted and now go far beyond blocking. As the center, he is the brain of the unit: reading defenses, making pre-snap calls, all while ensuring the protection holds.

He earned All-Conference and All-American honors at Pace but went undrafted. After attending an XFL combine, he was set to join the Vegas Vipers, until the XFL-USFL merger left him without a team.

That's when the Knight Hawks called.

"I was just looking for an opportunity," Toote said. "Coach Mike hit me up, and that's how I ended up here with the Knight Hawks."

It did not take long for Toote to make an impression. As a rookie, he was named to the IFL All-Rookie team. However, his season was also marked by a serious setback, a Lisfranc injury in his foot that could have derailed his momentum.

"Coming back was tough, but I had to ask myself, what am I even scared of? I'd already been through recovery. Worst case, I do it again. My dream was still possible and that's what kept me going."

Now healthy, Toote has become the emotional and strategic anchor of the Vegas offensive line alongside veteran Moses Mallory and rookie Desmond Bland. Their chemistry has powered the Knight Hawks' offense to near the top of the league in scoring.

"We communicate in our own way with sounds, grunts, even mid-play," Toote said. "We know each other's strengths and weaknesses and how to fill in for each other. That's what makes us so effective."

Knight Hawks offensive line coach Kyle Moore-Brown, a former player himself, has nothing but praise for the second-year center.

"He's probably one of the smartest young players I've ever been around. Truthfully, I think he's the heart and soul of this football team because of the way he prepares."

And the admiration runs deep.

"I watch him every single day. I always tell him this and he doesn't want to believe me, but I say, 'The world says this is where I was, and you're already better than me.' Just watching how he prepares, he's special."

That confidence, once quietly earned, is now unmistakable.

"The biggest difference from last year to this year is confidence. People call it swagger, but it's really just belief in yourself. He's not out here trying to prove anything anymore. He knows who he is."

Now, with the Knight Hawks on the cusp of back-to-back playoff appearances, Toote sees a team that's not just poised for a postseason run, but something more.

"We're firing on all cylinders" he said. "We trust each other, believe in each other, and we know we're not just built for the playoffs. We're built for a championship."