On Friday, a new face emerged in the offensive line group for the Jimbo Fisher Camp. Ryan Hoefeld, a 6’3, 265-pound center prospect, made his way up from New Orleans. He stars for Brother Martin High School. Hoefeld performed well enough to earn an offer after the conclusion of camp.
Ryan Hoefeld Favoring Florida State, TCU and LSU
“It was awesome. I didn’t know much about Florida State, but I loved it,” Hoefeld said. “We watched some movies and I had no idea about how much tradition Florida State has,” he added, speaking of Florida State’s 3D film often shown to prospects.
Hoefeld’s contact with Florida State has been through coach Dameyune Craig, and he was brought to camp by his cousin, who coached with Jimbo Fisher when Fisher was at LSU. But he really enjoyed the coaching from offensive line coach Rick Trickett.
“I loved him. He was awesome,” Hoefeld said. “He’s a hard-nosed, old-school coach. He is intense,” he added. Hoefeld said coach Craig warned him that he had better be focused when working with Trickett. “I work hard and he expects hard work, so we get each other,” Hoefeld said. He was also quite complimentary of Florida State’s facilities.
Hoefeld also liked that FSU has had success with linemen who come in lighter and then add weight. He spoke with Florida State offensive lineman Bryan Stork, who graduated high school around 240 pounds and is now right around 300. "They have a great weight program that will put the muscle on," Hoefeld said. A likely progression for Hoefeld would be to enroll around 275-80 pounds and then add 10 or so pounds in each of his first two seasons.
After a while, I was able to get Hoefeld to discuss other schools. "I like TCU a lot," he said of the Horned Frogs. TCU has not offered yet, but an offer is expected when Hoefeld camps there July 13, as TCU's offensive line coach is reluctant to extend offers without first working with the recruit. "I like TCU's education, and that they are a smaller school that still plays big time football," he added.
Then there is the elephant in the room that exists with almost all Louisiana players in LSU. LSU has not yet offered Hoefeld, but he does plan to camp or visit the Tigers sometime soon.
Still, Hoefeld insists that an LSU offer would not end his recruitment. “No, I wouldn’t say that. FSU really impressed me. They believe in me and this was a big trip,” Hoefeld said, though he offered that he did grow up a bit of an LSU fan.
Hoefeld has a timetable for his decision. “I’m going to take a week or two after the conclusion of my camp circuit, look at academics and majors, and then make a decision before football starts the first week in August,” he said. His mom has been researching flights and travel distances. “She is fine with anything five or six hours away (Both TCU and FSU are within those parameters). If I tried to go somewhere like Oregon she might have an issue,” he added.
Hoefeld is tough, quick, athletic and intelligent; all qualities fitting of a center.
For more on FSU football, visit Florida State blog Tomahawk Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.
For more on Horned Frogs football, visit TCU blog Frogs O’ War, plus SB Nation Dallas.
For more on Tigers football, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.
