AUBURN, Ala. – In 2015, Auburn added to its roster a 6-foot-4-inch, 280-pound offensive tackle out of Buford, Georgia. The four-star offensive line prospect headed to the Plains with a hunger like no other, ready to contribute to a formidable Tiger front line.
Four years later, Kaleb Kim has done just that. But between a redshirt year, spending time as a backup and having to overcome injury woes, his journey hasn't been without a number of obstacles along the way. Those hardships, however, became the foundation of his collegiate career along with the many experiences which shaped him into the student-athlete he is today.
Heading into his senior year, with the finish line in plain sight, Kim is healthy and ready to take the field for one final ride as Auburn's starting center.
"The ultimate goal for the upcoming season is to win a championship," Kim said. "Anything less than the SEC title is just unfortunate to me, so I'm absolutely willing to do anything to make that happen for us."
Kim is also on schedule to graduate from the Harbert College of Business with a degree in marketing in August and will immediately return to school to earn a second degree in information systems management. Though Kim will leave Auburn holding two degrees come next spring, his No. 1 goal after college is to make an NFL roster.
"That's definitely the dream, but I know that doesn't always work out," Kim said. "But I feel like being a student-athlete here has really given me an advantage for the real world, and my experiences here have laid a great foundation for me going into the next step, whatever that may be."
As Kim prepares to throw on the orange and blue jersey for one last collegiate season, he can't forget the memories and experiences – good and the bad – that brought him to this point. There's one chapter, in particular, that has given him the strength to push through any difficulties. That chapter, a knee injury in the middle of the 2018 season, was the low point in his football career, but it also ended up being a "character-building moment" for Kim.
"It was one of those things that definitely made me want to quit," Kim said. "For something like that to happen the first time I was really in the fight for that starting role, I questioned everything."
Yet in the face of adversity, Kim persevered.
Nick Brahms stepped in and took over at center, but Kim worked diligently from a mental and a physical standpoint to get back on the field for Auburn's last five games He returned to the starting lineup on Nov. 3 for a matchup with Texas A&M and had no trouble picking up where he left off.
"At the end of the day, I realized it was all about how I handled it," Kim says. "It was a character-building test for sure. It's something I'm proud of, that I was able to overcome that setback and still manage to finish out the season."
While the adversity only served as his drive, Kim said he has his father to thank more than anyone for encouraging him to battle through the hardship. John Kim will never forget the phone call he received from his son after the injury and hearing the discouragement in Kaleb's voice.
"I remember his words," the elder Kim said. "He called me and said, 'Dad, maybe this is not meant to be.' It broke my heart, but as his father, I knew I couldn't let him quit. Watching him fight back and work tirelessly in rehab to get back out there, I've never been more proud of him."
Kaleb says he not only "owes everything" to his father for the constant encouragement and inspiration through the injury woes, but says he owes his many achievements of the last four years to his teammates, coaches and the entire Auburn family.
"I wouldn't trade the relationships I've made here for anything," Kaleb said. "I think they're the kind that will last me a lifetime."
There's one bond, in particular, that has grown into something more than just a friendship, and ironically, it's with Brahms – the same person he was competing against all of last season.
"We're about as close to brothers as you could possibly get," Kaleb said.
Even Kim's father spoke highly of the two and the bond they've made with each other despite the fact that they've battled over the same role on the depth chart since Brahms joined the team in 2017.
"Nick is like my second son now," John Kim said. "He is just like Kaleb. They pull for each other, and they're mature. You just don't see that often with guys that are out there battling for the same position at this level, but these two are the closest of friends. I love to see it. It makes me proud."
With Kaleb, Brahms and four other starters returning up front, there's plenty of optimism surrounding the offensive line this offseason.
"To have all five guys returning is a very rare thing for the offensive line," Kaleb said. "I think it showed in the spring that we're picking up right where we left off in Nashville (where Auburn won the Music City Bowl). The only thing I can say is be looking out for us to come out firing on all cylinders come August 31."