Missouri Southern State University Athletics

Career Honors:
Honorable Mention All-MIAA Defensive Lineman (2021)
2x MIAA Academic Honor Roll (2022, 2021)
MIAA first-year or transfer Academic Honor Roll (2020-21)

2022 - Kruse started in five games for the Lions as a defensive end ... Finished with four solo tackles and three quarterback hurries before an injury concluded his season.

2021 - Started in 11 games for the Lions on the edges of the defensive line... Finished the season with 18 tackles, 5.5 TFL's, 2.0 sacks with eight quarterback hurries... Against Fort Hays State (Sep. 25) at home recorded his first collegiate sack and had a quarterback hurry as well... Recorded five tackles against Central Missouri (two solo) with 2.0 TFL's along with half a sack while having five quarterback hurries as well... Recorded at least 0.5 TFL's in six games including in four straight games to begin the season.

2020 - Played in the 21-20 win over Southern Nazarene (Mar. 18) on the road ... did not lose a year of eligibility during the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Prior to Southern - Redshirted the 2018 season at Missouri Western... A two-time All-State, All-district and three time first team All-Conference selection for Brent maxwell as a lineman at Harrisonville High School where he was also involved with the wrestling program for coach Eric Devenny... On the mat he was the State runner up in the 220 pound division in 2019 and in 2017 helped the Wildcats to the Class 4 State Championship on the football field.

Personal - Nick is the son of Tonya Jackson and Kevin Kruse and is a marketing and management double major at Southern.