Andrew Kukesh epitomized the college athlete who makes an immediate difference on his team. Kukesh started all 32 games over his four years — almost entirely at free safety, with a cameo at linebacker when injuries called for it — and beginning with his freshman year, he played a major role in transforming the Bates football program. The Bobcats went from 1-7 the year before Kukesh’s arrival in 2010, to 2-6 in his freshman year, to 3-5 in 2011, to 5-3 in 2012 and 4-4 in 2013. The 2012 season was Bates’ first winning campaign since 1981, and the back-to-back seasons of 2012 and 2013 were Bates’ finest since 1981–82. No player was more responsible for the program’s rise to relevance than the three-time All-NESCAC selection.

Kukesh was the only rookie named to the 2010 All-NESCAC football team, earning Second Team honors thanks to six interceptions in eight games. As a sophomore Kukesh raised his defensive production to 56 tackles (33 solo) and had two interceptions, but missed all-conference honors for the only time.

In the landmark 2012 CBB championship season, the cerebral and athletic Kukesh snagged a NESCAC-best six more interceptions, with one in six different games, and made 55 tackles, leading a Bates defense that created a team-record 32 takeaways and played a large role in the Bobcats’ leading Division III in average turnover margin. He was not only honored as an All-NESCAC First Team selection, but also gained All-East honors from D3football.com.

Entering his senior season, Kukesh was more of a known quantity, and he received preseason All-America nods from both Lindy’s and D3football — the only player in the NESCAC to win the latter honor. Another rock-solid season as a senior included two starts at linebacker, but whatever position he played, he was the player opposing offenses looked for first. After posting a career-high 81 tackles with three interceptions, Kukesh was one of three defensive backs named Division II/III All-New England, and he repeated as a First Team All-NESCAC and All-East awardee.