A specimen of an athlete, Gabriel Hegelheimer Gabriel Hegelheimer 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB/K Regina | 2028 State IA didn’t get much shine this fall for Regina Catholic in Iowa City. Sitting behind a Power 4 prospect in Savion Miller Savion Miller 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Iowa City | 2027 State IA , Hegelheimer played second fiddle in the run game, but still put up some damn good numbers in the process. Taking 25 carries for 294 yards (11.8 yards per carry) and six scores, Hegelheimer wasn’t fully unleashed, and he still put up excellent numbers in a small sample size.

A body type that could play running back or linebacker at the next level, Hegelheimer possesses the burst, physical running style and quickness in between the tackles to be an impactful every down back or a hard hitting linebacker, whichever path he chooses to take.

Either way, he’s set for a breakout junior campaign, and he will greatly benefit from the camp circuit this summer.

(@GabeHegs)

Regina’s Gabriel Hegelmeiner looks ready to take on the duties of being the feature back for the Regals next fall. Despite playing a backup role, Gabe still produced 294 yards and six touchdowns on 25 carries. Gabe is a well-rounded running back who has a great mix of speed and power, along with a nose for the big play. He has a very strong base and a sturdy frame at 5’11 and 190 pounds, which keeps him upright through tackle attempts and gives him the power to move piles for additional yards after contact. Strong runner in between the tackles, but can quickly bounce runs to the outside where he can reach his next gear. There were also some impressive blocking clips on Gabe’s tape, where he lined up as a fullback and opened up lanes for his backfield mate. Hegelheimer also projects to be one of the top specialists in the state after converting 62 of 62 PATs, knocking in all four of his field goal attempts (long of 38), and averaging 33 yards per punt. Some schools have already begun to take notice of the Regina prospect, and it shouldn’t be long before they start extending offers.

Known for his size and quickness, Gabriel Hegelheimer Gabriel Hegelheimer 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB/K Regina | 2028 State IA undoubtedly has a future in college football, whether it’s at running back or somewhere on defense.

On Thursday, his kicking abilities are what helped the Regals the most. Perfect on PATs throughout the season, Hegelheimer stayed true on extra points, but where he came up the most clutch for Regina was on field goals of 29 and 38 yards. The latter being a career long.

Hegelheimer oozes potential when you watch him operating on the field, which I did during Week 2 of the 2025 season. The sophomore carried six times for 32 yards and a touchdown backing up one of the state’s top running backs. He also chipped in a pair of tackles, including .5 TFL, and showed up on special teams, including as a kicker and punter. Hegelheimer combines size, athleticism and good football instincts in finding success. He’s just scratching the surface of his considerable upside and is, without question, one to watch during the rest of this season and beyond.

One of the more underrated players for the Regals — and probably in the state, at this point — Gabriel Hegelheimer Gabriel Hegelheimer 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB/K Regina | 2028 State IA is on his way up to Savion Miller Savion Miller 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Iowa City | 2027 State IA (who would’ve been included in this article if I saw more of him on Friday, but he did truck a CCA linebacker) and Tate Wallace Tate Wallace 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Regina | 2027 State IA territory. A rare running back and defensive tackle hybrid, Hegelheimer possesses the unique physical traits and explosion to play both positions at a high level in 1A.

Hegelheimer is a bowling ball of a running back with vision and the foot speed to quickly make cuts or gain momentum and plow over would-be tacklers. A physical freak for his age, Hegelheimer has P4 recruit written all over him, either as a linebacker or a tail back.