Prospect Spotlight: Tristan Hoppe – Hutchinson (2021)

What do coaches want in a prototypical high school middle linebacker? They would prefer him to have experience. They would want a guy who can diagnose an offense. Most of all, they will want a physical, sure tackler to roam the middle of the defense. Hutchinson’s [player_tooltip player_id="18056" first="Tristan" last="Hoppe"] is one of those guys who check all the boxes. As far as the playoffs were concerned, the Tigers were coming off – for them - a down season. After an undefeated regular season, they lost in round one of the playoffs. Coming into the 2019 season, they had plenty of questions. "At the beginning of the year, we don’t know what our o-line was going to look like. At Hutch, we always seem to find guys to step up and take a role on the team. We were led by (Boise State commit) [player_tooltip player_id="2195" first="Russell" last="Corrigan"], but we all followed him, and we came together as a team. We played hard-nosed football – when in doubt – run the ball." On defense, they had questions in the secondary. "Our defense was tight. We communicated well. Our secondary was all sophomores, and we thought that might be a problem, but they came together well. We were led by [player_tooltip player_id="10992" first="Ethan" last="Beffert"] at defensive end. We all had one mindset – win the state championship. We fell one short (of the Prep Bowl), but we were a team of friends." Hoppe settled in at his familiar middle linebacker position. "I always strive to be the leading tackler on my team. Having 102 tackles (in 2019) was a big milestone for me. I had the best season of my high school career, but I have things I can do better next season." Hoppe has been a starter since game three of his freshman year. "I watch a lot of film, and I am able to read plays quickly. Last year I would be calling out plays because the guard would lean one way, or his hand would be off the ground a little bit. Playing since freshman year has helped me get the concepts, and I know what is going to happen – giving me a step up on the guys who don’t know what is going on." On offense, Hoppe rotated in at tight end and fullback – usually in short-yardage situations. His offseason has focused on defense. "I have been working on my pass coverage," Hoppe told prepredzone.com. "Playing middle linebacker, I drop into a zone sometimes, but I need to work on my one-on-one coverage for tight ends and running backs for the college level. I have been working on my footwork and just doing one-on-ones with guys from town." After the football team’s state semi-final run, Hoppe found himself back in another long playoff run. "I play hockey in the winter. We made it to the state tournament. I play defense. I am not the guy that is going to skate all the way up the ice and score, but I physically set the tone in the game and get the pucks to the guys that need to score." COVID19 changed the rest of his offseason. "I was in track the year before, but I think I was just going to lift at the gym. We couldn’t do that," Hoppe said, "so a few guys worked out in the mornings. We would do outside agility stuff – cones and ladders." Recently, his offseason training has taken on a more familiar look. "Our strength program opened up, so we have been able to get going with that," the 6’1" 230-pound senior said. "We switch between areas of the body each day. Some of us have been meeting at the track in the mornings to do sprints." Hoppe – who likes water sports and bass fishing – will have opportunities to play football well after his senior year wraps up. "Recruiting has been good. When COVID hit, things started to slow down, but it has been fun. It has been hard to get out to places, but the places I have been to have been good. I have offers from Sioux Falls, Northern State, and Mary at the DII level and Moorhead, St. Johns at the DIII level." Where he ends up playing in college will go a long way toward Hoppe knowing what position he will play at the next level. "Most of the schools see me as a linebacker, but a few schools might move me to defensive end. I think they like how physical I am on film. I have the knack for finding the ballcarrier and taking him out with all I’ve got." Spoken like a prototypical middle linebacker.