By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. - Saint John's University senior cornerback John Kohler is cherishing every moment as he comes down the stretch of his final season of college football – no matter how routine or mundane.

"I'm just so grateful for everything," said Kohler, whose team (8-1) – ranked No. 5 in the most recent D3football.com Division III top 25 – plays host to Bethel (8-1) in the MIAC Championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday in Clemens Stadium.

The winner claims the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The loser will have to hope for one of five at-large bids available to the 32-team field, which will be announced at 4 p.m. (CST) Sunday.

"Sometimes, it can be easy to complain about practice or to just go through the motions," Kohler continued. "But when you realize this is your last time doing all this, it makes you want to soak up every moment and make them last."

Kohler has learned how fleeting those moments can be. The 6-foot, 190-pound Rice Lake (Wis.) High School graduate earned a starting job at safety as a sophomore in 2019 – finishing with 57 tackles and two interceptions as the Johnnies advanced to the Division III semifinals for the first time since 2003. 

But the onset of COVID-19 prevented the Johnnies from playing games in 2020, then a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered during a pickup basketball game prior to last season kept him out all of last season. 

That meant he hadn't played a game in almost two full years prior to this year's season opener against Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sept. 3.

"(The injury) was a big part of why I wanted to come back," said Kohler, who has 25 tackles and a team-best four interceptions through the first nine games this fall. 

That included two in the end zone to end potential scoring threats for Carleton in a 45-16 win over the Knights last Saturday (Nov. 5) at Clemens Stadium. He was named the MIAC Defensive Player of the Week and to D3football.com's National Team of the Week for the performance.

"There was no way I wanted to let my football career end on a down note like that," he said. "I wanted to get at least one more season back."

Kohler has switched positions this fall, moving from safety, but it's really a return to the spot where he feels most comfortable. He was a cornerback in high school – helping lead his team to a WIAA D-III state championship -- and during his freshman season at SJU.

"I only switched to safety four days before the first game (in 2019), so that was actually a way bigger adjustment," he said. "I was learning a lot on the fly. Cornerback is a position that feels more natural."

SJU co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Brandon Novak '01 said having a player with Kohler's experience has been a real boost to the secondary.

"If you know John at all, you know he's a calm player and very intelligent," Novak said. "He watches a ton of film so he knows what's going on. He's not going to get rattled out there.

"This year, having him back at cornerback, he's really been a defensive point guard for us. That's the role we look to him to play."

Kohler, an integrative science major who was an academic All-MIAC selection in both 2019 and '20, will graduate after this semester. He's previously worked as part of the emergency medical technicians (EMT) team on campus, and still serves as a medical scribe at CentraCare's Becker clinic. There he types notes for Dr. Paul Spinner '91, himself a Saint John's graduate and the son of former Johnnie football and track great Bob Spinner '64.

"That's been great," Kohler said. "Paul went to school here, too, and he's really taken me under his wing and taken the time to teach me everything he knows."

Kohler currently is applying to medical schools for next fall. But before that happens, there is still more football to play.

"In a way, getting injured last season had a silver lining because it made me thankful for every chance I get to still be out here," Kohler said. "I think it's made me appreciate this last season even more than I would have otherwise. I really want to make it count."