Switching positions in any sport is difficult and usually a learning challenge for those involved, but not for Sacramento State football junior running back Brandon Kellermann.

Kellerman switched from being an all-conference linebacker in junior college to a running back in the FCS and he is thriving.

Kellermann began his college football career at Sierra College in 2010. There he earned all Valley Conference following his sophomore season and finished with 62 tackles and three interceptions.

Kellermann did something unconventional following his last year of eligibility at Sierra, he went back to his alma mater. At Bella Vista High School, in Fair Oaks he became a defensive coach on the junior varsity football team.

He came into Sac State looking for a spot on the team following his year off.

“I came in thinking I was gonna play linebacker and that’s what I trained for in preparation,” Kellermann said. “None of the drills I did in the tryout had anything to do with any specific skill position or anything like that.”

The coaches liked the way Kellermann played, but they saw him playing a different position than linebacker.  

“Coach (Tyler) Almond called me and said, we liked what we saw and we want you out there but we want you to play fullback,” Kellermann said. “The first thing I said is ‘I’ll play whatever position you want me to as long as I can have a spot on the team.’”

Running back coach Aaron Ingram received word of Kellermann’s tryout and was excited to bring in the former defensive standout.

“The transition is still pretty different for him,” Ingram said. “He has that type of defensive mentality that is great for the offensive side of the ball.”

As he moved to the running back position, Kellermann found himself low on the depth chart. It was not until Oct 5 against Northern Colorado where he and fellow running back freshman Jordan Robinson moved past three injured running backs on the depth chart.

Kellermann was ready for the first carry of his career.

“This is it, you’ve got to make something happen,” he said. “I was definitely excited and hungry to play and get the ball. I was ready for it.”

Since that game, Kellermann has accumulated 247 yards on 57 carries for two touchdowns.

When not on the field, Kellermann’s work ethic and leadership is felt throughout the team.

“The room goes how Brandon goes. He’s always done a great job with that,” Ingram said.

“He is a lead by example guy.”

But it’s not all about football for Kellermann, education comes first for the junior. He has a school first attitude when it comes to being a student athlete.

“I set goals and kinda go day to day and look at what you have to do and what you have to get done and just kinda have the mindset and say I have to do school in order to play football,” Kellermann said. “You want to put in the same work you want to put in for football the same things you want to do for school.”

Kellermanns father, Michael, is an information technology consultant here on campus and he is proud of his son’s journey as a Sac State football player.

“Its great because he’s done this on his own,” Michael Kellerman said. “The sky is the limit if you want to work hard to get it. It’s not a straight line to get there.”

The Kellermanns are a tight knit family that enjoy each others company.

“I’m really close with my family,” Brandon Kellerman said. “We all usually hang out, eat dinner together, watch a movie or something when I’m not coming home just eating or falling asleep.”

 Michael Kellermann cited their love for skim boarding at the beach and being active.

Brandon Kellermann is also part of his Sac State football family, having grown a bond with many of the players on the team.

“We all just feed off each other’s energy,” Brandon Kellermann said. “I’m good friends with everyone on the team, there’s not a single guy that I couldn’t sit down and talk to or have at my house or hang out with.”