Whatever It Takes – Cross-Training In The Off-Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a seemingly infinite number of ways to train for football in the off-season and everyone has their own spin on how to go about it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Typically, schools provide a solid foundation to work from. With competition as ferocious as ever most schools have it down to a science.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Consequently, playing off-season school sports in the winter and spring, coupled with a supplemental football weightlifting and speedwork program is usually sufficient to stay in shape year around. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But for some of the ballers out there that is not enough. Those wanting to take their game to the next level instinctively know their reach has to exceed their grasp. They have to push themselves in new and creative ways to get get bigger, faster and better every year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And let me tell you, there are a wide range of different cross training approaches being put to use. In spring, track and baseball are common, as well as taking advantage of expert local trainers, camps and combines; but there is also travel hoops and tournament wrestling, powerlifting, lacrosse, rugby, swimming, martial arts, even boxing. The list goes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One player told me all his coaches were great ex-players so he was going to emulate what they do in the off-season. I circled back later to check on progress and he told things were great, he had been playing golf every day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report we are going to take a closer look at five players who may not be including a daily round of golf in their off-season training program but are applying a little bit of everything else as they burn the candle at both ends getting in the best shape of their young lives for the 2025 football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So without further adieu, let's take a closer look at these guys and what all they are doing in the off-season as they prep for this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403576' first='Ethan' last='Coutre']</strong>, 6'2, 230, DE, <em>Hesston</em>, <strong>'26</strong>. He is coming off a good junior season as a two-way baller who piled up 69 tackles, a dozen tackles for loss and forced seven fumbles as a defensive end. He makes his presence known immediately as a mauling, brawling force coming off the edge. He has a powerful frame and next-level closing speed, which he is currently putting to use in track, as he is on the 4x100 relay team closing in on the school record. He is also throwing the shot and in his spare time fits in football training for this fall. Currently he is planning on hitting camps at Fort Hays and Emporia State and is deciding on additional destinations. He already has an offer from Friends, but before the season is over he will have a lot more. This guy is going to dominate this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1778118' first='Landon' last='Huffman']</strong>, 5'11, 170, DB/WR, <em>Salina South</em>, <strong>'26</strong>. He is another baller coming off a solid junior season that was just a warm up for a big senior season this fall. On offense he is versatile and can work out of the backfield as a running back or split out wide as needed. On the other side of the ball he is a headhunter of a strong safety who collected 77 tackles, forced a fumble and blocked a field goal a year ago. With his excellent read and react skills he collapses on the ball in a hurry and brings the hammer on open-field tackles. His off-season training is focused on getting even more explosive. He has put on 15 pounds and gotten taller and is getting ready to hit the camp circuit hard this spring and summer. Right now he is focused on playing baseball but continues to get in his off-season training on the side. He is getting ready for breakout season in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='944905' first='Drake' last='Blasi']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-blasi/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/drake-blasi/"></a>&nbsp;</strong>, 5'11, 195, LB,&nbsp;<em>Maize</em>,&nbsp;<strong>'27</strong>. He is a talented multi-sport standout who I have been following for awhile now. As a two-way rising star, he is coming off an excellent sophomore season when he was an all-conference linebacker with 73 tackles and six tackles for loss. With his powerful frame and baller instincts he can play any of the linebacker spots but has really shined storming the gates off the edge or shooting gaps from the outside to make plays in the backfield. He moves well laterally flowing to the ball and on arrival is a battering ram of a hitter. Currently he is focused on travel baseball playing on one of the top-contending teams in the state. He is still considering camps when there is a break in the baseball action but is undecided. Once he shifts gears full time to football, watch out this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616521' first='Oliver' last='Kline']</strong>, 6'2, 170, WR/DB, <em>Emporia</em>, <strong>'28</strong>. He is a versatile two-way baller in the making who is getting ready for a big season this fall. On offense he can play split wide or in tight as a slot receiver. On defense he is a talented free safety who has the athleticism to dominate at the position. He has a long frame with an excellent catch radius and can high-point the ball when it is in the air. He has been busy in the off-season and is currently juggling baseball as well as running AAU track. He just got back from the Varsity combine in Kansas City last weekend where he tested well. With a full plate of baseball and track he is is still in the process of finalizing his camp/combine plans, but hasn't ruled anything out. Get this guy on your watchlists as he is going to generate some excitement this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brody Hopper</strong>, 6'3, 200, LB/TE, <em>Derby</em>, <strong>'28</strong>. He is another talented playmaker getting ready to put his skills on display for the powerful Panthers this fall. With prototype size and athleticism already, he is an aggressive linebacker who can shut down the edge on defense or provide game-breaking plays as a hybrid tight end on offense. He showed glimpses of great things to come last fall and hitting it hard in the vaunted Derby off-season program he is only going to get better. Right now he is laser-focused on baseball but has continued to work on getting even more explosive. He has put on weight in the off-season and in the most recent testing improved his vertical jump by five inches while getting faster in the sprints and agilities. He may not be widely known now, but get your popcorn handy, this guy is getting ready to put on a show this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get out and see these guys hit it hard this fall – you will not be disappointed. Also, DM me via X if you run across any other players flying under the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, as usual…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keep grindin'</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->