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2000 Highlights
Started in all 11 games and has started 23 consecutive games at left guard for the Illini entering the 2001 season
O-line was rated among the top-10 in many preseason publications
Tallied 67 knockdowns
Was in on 537 offensive snaps
Line held the San Diego State defense without a sack and allowed only 20 sacks in 361 pass plays all season for an average of one sack every 18.1 pass attempts
Helped lead offense to second consecutive 2,000 yard passing season and over 1,700 rushing yards for the second straight year, something that hasnt been accomplished by Illini teams since the 1989 and 90 seasons.
1999 Highlights
Started all 12 games at left guard
Helped lead young offensive line that showed improvement each week
Assisted the Illini in its campaign to become the highest scoring offense in school history
Helped hold four defenses sackless (Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, and Northwestern)
Allowed the Illini to rush for 2,082 yards (5th in the Big Ten) and pass for 2,805 (3rd in the conference)
Helped boost the Illinis 611
total offense yards in the 63-21 win over Virginia in the Micronpc.com Bowl
Played in 94 plays against Michigan State and over 80 snaps vs. Ohio State, Iowa and Indiana
Totaled 45 knockdowns on the season.
1998 Highlights
Played in nine games, earning his first varsity letter, as a backup offensive guard and on special teams.
1997 Highlights
Redshirted the 1997 season.
High School Highlights
Earned All-Pinellas County Athletic Conference honors as a junior
Earned second-team all-district honors as an offensive lineman as a junior
Played offensive tackle and nose guard . . . High school coach was Sam Roper . . . Earned three letters in football, three letters in basketball and three letters in track
Led basketball team in rebounding and earned Christmas tournament all-tourney honors as a junior
Won the conference meet in the shot put and discus as a sophomore
Won regional shot put title as a junior and was a state finalist . . . Best throw in the shot put is 55-feet-1/2-inches and 150 feet in discus . . . Dean's List student throughout his high school academic career . . . Named Seminole Student of the Month in December 1996
Member of the Varsity Letterman's Club.
Personal
Born on May 25, 1978
Given name is John Kulaga, but goes by Jay . . . Nickname is Big Poppa . . . Majoring in speech communications
Lists winning the Florida Class 6A regional shot put title as his biggest sports thrill . . . Parents are Jack and Christine Kulaga . . . Favorite athlete is Michael Johnson.
