November 23, 2016 at 4:33 p.m.
Sticking with the game
Work lifted Hemmelgarn to become all-conference defender
Sticking with the game
Eric Hemmelgarn was a wrecking machine for the Jay County High School football team.
He dominated on the defensive line. He lived in opponents’ backfields.
The 2014 graduate spent his winters working over opponents on the wrestling mat as a three-time state medalist.
Needless to say, he was used to being one of the best.
Then he got to college, where he didn’t play — didn’t even get the chance — his freshman year. He was red-shirted.
It’s a reality many high school stars face when they get to the next level. They then have the option of whether they’re going to walk away when sports become difficult for the first time or put in the work it takes to contribute.
Hemmelgarn chose the latter. The proof is in the results.
Now a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle at the University of St. Francis, the No. 4 team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, he was named last week to the All-Mid-States Football Association Mideast League first team.
••••••••••
The situation Hemmelgarn found himself in is far from uncommon. St. Francis co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Eric Wagoner has seen it over and over again.
“I get a guy every year, every year I coach. He was the best guy on his high school team, best guy in his conference, north-south all-star,” he said. “Well, you know, when you’re going against 21-, 22-year-olds, and you’re 18, there’s a big difference.”
It can be a humbling experience. And frustrating.
Hemmelgarn admits as much. It was a difficult process.
After playing virtually every snap at Jay County, he was stuck on the sidelines for his first year in Fort Wayne. He went to every practice, every meeting. But there would be no opportunity to get into a game.
The only accolade he was able to receive was the “defensive scout player of the week,” which he earned twice. Such is the life of a redshirt player.
“Instead of being upset about it, he’s just worked his tail off,” said Wagoner. “He’s got a great work ethic, great attitude.”
He got more playing time during the 2015 season — he recorded 17 tackles and a sack while playing in all 12 games — but still not as much as he would have liked. A couple of experienced interior defensive linemen remained in front of him.
“That’s why I really worked hard over the offseason, stayed up here over the summer working at it,” said Hemmelgarn. “I’m working hard, and it’s paid off.”
••••••••••
It actually started to pay off before the Hemmelgarn realized the full impact of more playing time. Wagoner started to see it in spring practice in 2015 when he says the then-freshman blossomed.
He had been big and strong when he arrived at St. Francis — you can’t coach a guy to be 6-feet, 5-inches, tall, after all — but he was raw. In high school, he was able to overpower opposing lineman with brute force alone.
Suddenly, in college, he was going up against guys his size or bigger.
Hemmelgarn needed to expand his repertoire. That has included adding some pass rush moves. They’re still based on power, like the stab — he jabs one arm into the offensive lineman’s chest while using the other to throw him off — but they create a variety that keeps opponents from knowing what’s coming on every play.
The same is true of stunts — when defensive lineman cross paths instead of going straight up the field.
“In high school, it was just all straight rush,” said Hemmelgarn. “Now I’m moving. Sometimes I’ll do a twist with a defensive end … to throw off the offensive line.”
He improved enough heading into his redshirt freshman season that he forced the St. Francis coaches to find a way to get him on the field. That included using a five-man front in obvious running situations.
The taste of playing time during that 2015 season kept Hemmelgarn working hard. That included staying in Fort Wayne for part of the summer — running, lifting, conditioning.
He focused on improving his flexibility, specifically in his lower body. That allows him to get lower — “pad level” is the phrase coaches use — when rushing and gain an advantage in leverage.
“That’s one of the things he’s really taken pride in the last year, working on being more flexible. He knew that he had to get himself in better position,” said Wagoner. “He had to be able to sink his hips better.
“That was something we knew we had to work on, but he’s taken it outside of football and worked on it.”
••••••••••
It didn’t take long for Hemmelgarn’s work to show dividends this season.
He had three tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in the opening win over Olivet Nazarene. Game two saw him make six tackles, more than a third of the total he had recorded during the entire previous season.
That game included a fumble that Lee Stewart III took 65 yards to the 4-yard line. Hemmelgarn was out front blocking on the return.
“I put a couple guys on their butts, just like I did whenever J.D. (Mangas) had those long touchdown runs,” he said, thinking back to all the times he paved the way for the Patriot running back. “That kind of reminded me of the high school days.”
He likes being out in front and knocking guys down, a rare opportunity now that he’s no longer a two-way player like he was at JCHS. (He does, though, serve as a blocker for extra points and field goals.)
Hemmelgarn has made at least three tackles in every game this season, with his high of eight coming Oct. 29 in a 56-24 destruction of Missouri Baptist. He also had seven tackles against Marian, the Indianapolis school that is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA and represents the Cougars’ only loss this season.
He recorded two sacks in a 24-22 victory over Siena Heights, and through 10 games this season he has 49 tackles, seven sacks and one fumble recovery.
But his impact on the game goes beyond those numbers.
“For us, he helps anchor the inside. He commands double teams from our opponents, which, when you get that kind of situation, that means someone else is unblocked,” said Wagoner. “And, even with commanding those double teams, he’s still put up some pretty impressive numbers. I think sometimes going out there he’s an intimidating force to look at. And then he starts playing …”
••••••••••
Hemmelgarn and the USF squad aren’t done playing yet this season. They racked up an NAIA Football Championship Series record point total in demolishing Missouri Valley College 79-20 Saturday in the opening round of the postseason tournament.
Playing in the snow, the Cougars fell behind early and trailed for much of the opening quarter. Then they scored 65 unanswered points.
Holding Missouri Valley’s potent offense scoreless for the final 50 minutes came in part because of a defensive switch that involved Hemmelgarn. The Cougars changed to a three-man front, using the 288-pounder’s ability to occupy the middle of the offensive line.
“He allows us to do a lot of things outside of the box and on the perimeter because of what his presence is and what he demands from offenses,” Wagoner said.
The blowout win in which Hemmelgarn had four tackles and a fumble recovery was the first step of what St. Francis (10-1) hopes will be a run to the NAIA championship game Dec. 17 in Daytona, Florida. Up next is fifth-ranked Morningside, an Iowa school that is also 10-1.
If the Cougars are able to win that game at home Saturday, they could earn a rematch with conference rival Marian in the national semifinal.
Hemmelgarn relishes the opportunity to be able to even think about an NAIA championship.
“It’s nice to play at a program like St. Francis that has been good since it started,” Hemmelgarn. “It has good fans, good alumni, a great coach whose been there since the (program) started.
“The ultimate goal for us is to get down to Daytona, Florida … Everybody’s working hard and everybody knows what’s at stake.”
••••••••••
The first two years of Hemmelgarn’s career did not go as he would have planned after he walked off the field at Jay County’s Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium for the last time.
He would have liked to start in college from the moment he arrived. He would have preferred not to take a redshirt year. He would rather have played full time as a sophomore rather than in fits and spurts in a supporting role.
But those challenges have molded him into the player he has become, pushing him to, and maybe sometimes past, his limits.
“It’s just a whole different level of talent up here, playing college football,” Hemmelgarn said. “There’s a lot of guys who share the same talents as me …
“It was a tough process at first, but I think now I’m just starting to fit in.”
That should be scary for other teams in his conference, given that he also already considered one of its best defensive lineman.
His 18 tackles for a loss — 14 solo — this season rank him third in the league. Both players who are ahead of him are seniors.
So what Hemmelgarn has done thus far may be just a glimpse of what is to come.
“It’s exciting,” said Wagoner. “He wants to be the best. He openly talks about it. … He wants to be all-conference. He wants to be an All-American. He wants to be a guy who’s remembered as one of our best players … I think that drive and determination has been great for him …
“He’s having a great year, but he’s got a ways to develop too. He’s going to be, hopefully, even better.”
He dominated on the defensive line. He lived in opponents’ backfields.
The 2014 graduate spent his winters working over opponents on the wrestling mat as a three-time state medalist.
Needless to say, he was used to being one of the best.
Then he got to college, where he didn’t play — didn’t even get the chance — his freshman year. He was red-shirted.
It’s a reality many high school stars face when they get to the next level. They then have the option of whether they’re going to walk away when sports become difficult for the first time or put in the work it takes to contribute.
Hemmelgarn chose the latter. The proof is in the results.
Now a redshirt sophomore defensive tackle at the University of St. Francis, the No. 4 team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, he was named last week to the All-Mid-States Football Association Mideast League first team.
••••••••••
The situation Hemmelgarn found himself in is far from uncommon. St. Francis co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Eric Wagoner has seen it over and over again.
“I get a guy every year, every year I coach. He was the best guy on his high school team, best guy in his conference, north-south all-star,” he said. “Well, you know, when you’re going against 21-, 22-year-olds, and you’re 18, there’s a big difference.”
It can be a humbling experience. And frustrating.
Hemmelgarn admits as much. It was a difficult process.
After playing virtually every snap at Jay County, he was stuck on the sidelines for his first year in Fort Wayne. He went to every practice, every meeting. But there would be no opportunity to get into a game.
The only accolade he was able to receive was the “defensive scout player of the week,” which he earned twice. Such is the life of a redshirt player.
“Instead of being upset about it, he’s just worked his tail off,” said Wagoner. “He’s got a great work ethic, great attitude.”
He got more playing time during the 2015 season — he recorded 17 tackles and a sack while playing in all 12 games — but still not as much as he would have liked. A couple of experienced interior defensive linemen remained in front of him.
“That’s why I really worked hard over the offseason, stayed up here over the summer working at it,” said Hemmelgarn. “I’m working hard, and it’s paid off.”
••••••••••
It actually started to pay off before the Hemmelgarn realized the full impact of more playing time. Wagoner started to see it in spring practice in 2015 when he says the then-freshman blossomed.
He had been big and strong when he arrived at St. Francis — you can’t coach a guy to be 6-feet, 5-inches, tall, after all — but he was raw. In high school, he was able to overpower opposing lineman with brute force alone.
Suddenly, in college, he was going up against guys his size or bigger.
Hemmelgarn needed to expand his repertoire. That has included adding some pass rush moves. They’re still based on power, like the stab — he jabs one arm into the offensive lineman’s chest while using the other to throw him off — but they create a variety that keeps opponents from knowing what’s coming on every play.
The same is true of stunts — when defensive lineman cross paths instead of going straight up the field.
“In high school, it was just all straight rush,” said Hemmelgarn. “Now I’m moving. Sometimes I’ll do a twist with a defensive end … to throw off the offensive line.”
He improved enough heading into his redshirt freshman season that he forced the St. Francis coaches to find a way to get him on the field. That included using a five-man front in obvious running situations.
The taste of playing time during that 2015 season kept Hemmelgarn working hard. That included staying in Fort Wayne for part of the summer — running, lifting, conditioning.
He focused on improving his flexibility, specifically in his lower body. That allows him to get lower — “pad level” is the phrase coaches use — when rushing and gain an advantage in leverage.
“That’s one of the things he’s really taken pride in the last year, working on being more flexible. He knew that he had to get himself in better position,” said Wagoner. “He had to be able to sink his hips better.
“That was something we knew we had to work on, but he’s taken it outside of football and worked on it.”
••••••••••
It didn’t take long for Hemmelgarn’s work to show dividends this season.
He had three tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in the opening win over Olivet Nazarene. Game two saw him make six tackles, more than a third of the total he had recorded during the entire previous season.
That game included a fumble that Lee Stewart III took 65 yards to the 4-yard line. Hemmelgarn was out front blocking on the return.
“I put a couple guys on their butts, just like I did whenever J.D. (Mangas) had those long touchdown runs,” he said, thinking back to all the times he paved the way for the Patriot running back. “That kind of reminded me of the high school days.”
He likes being out in front and knocking guys down, a rare opportunity now that he’s no longer a two-way player like he was at JCHS. (He does, though, serve as a blocker for extra points and field goals.)
Hemmelgarn has made at least three tackles in every game this season, with his high of eight coming Oct. 29 in a 56-24 destruction of Missouri Baptist. He also had seven tackles against Marian, the Indianapolis school that is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA and represents the Cougars’ only loss this season.
He recorded two sacks in a 24-22 victory over Siena Heights, and through 10 games this season he has 49 tackles, seven sacks and one fumble recovery.
But his impact on the game goes beyond those numbers.
“For us, he helps anchor the inside. He commands double teams from our opponents, which, when you get that kind of situation, that means someone else is unblocked,” said Wagoner. “And, even with commanding those double teams, he’s still put up some pretty impressive numbers. I think sometimes going out there he’s an intimidating force to look at. And then he starts playing …”
••••••••••
Hemmelgarn and the USF squad aren’t done playing yet this season. They racked up an NAIA Football Championship Series record point total in demolishing Missouri Valley College 79-20 Saturday in the opening round of the postseason tournament.
Playing in the snow, the Cougars fell behind early and trailed for much of the opening quarter. Then they scored 65 unanswered points.
Holding Missouri Valley’s potent offense scoreless for the final 50 minutes came in part because of a defensive switch that involved Hemmelgarn. The Cougars changed to a three-man front, using the 288-pounder’s ability to occupy the middle of the offensive line.
“He allows us to do a lot of things outside of the box and on the perimeter because of what his presence is and what he demands from offenses,” Wagoner said.
The blowout win in which Hemmelgarn had four tackles and a fumble recovery was the first step of what St. Francis (10-1) hopes will be a run to the NAIA championship game Dec. 17 in Daytona, Florida. Up next is fifth-ranked Morningside, an Iowa school that is also 10-1.
If the Cougars are able to win that game at home Saturday, they could earn a rematch with conference rival Marian in the national semifinal.
Hemmelgarn relishes the opportunity to be able to even think about an NAIA championship.
“It’s nice to play at a program like St. Francis that has been good since it started,” Hemmelgarn. “It has good fans, good alumni, a great coach whose been there since the (program) started.
“The ultimate goal for us is to get down to Daytona, Florida … Everybody’s working hard and everybody knows what’s at stake.”
••••••••••
The first two years of Hemmelgarn’s career did not go as he would have planned after he walked off the field at Jay County’s Harold E. Schutz Memorial Stadium for the last time.
He would have liked to start in college from the moment he arrived. He would have preferred not to take a redshirt year. He would rather have played full time as a sophomore rather than in fits and spurts in a supporting role.
But those challenges have molded him into the player he has become, pushing him to, and maybe sometimes past, his limits.
“It’s just a whole different level of talent up here, playing college football,” Hemmelgarn said. “There’s a lot of guys who share the same talents as me …
“It was a tough process at first, but I think now I’m just starting to fit in.”
That should be scary for other teams in his conference, given that he also already considered one of its best defensive lineman.
His 18 tackles for a loss — 14 solo — this season rank him third in the league. Both players who are ahead of him are seniors.
So what Hemmelgarn has done thus far may be just a glimpse of what is to come.
“It’s exciting,” said Wagoner. “He wants to be the best. He openly talks about it. … He wants to be all-conference. He wants to be an All-American. He wants to be a guy who’s remembered as one of our best players … I think that drive and determination has been great for him …
“He’s having a great year, but he’s got a ways to develop too. He’s going to be, hopefully, even better.”
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