Interview: Arkansas 2018 LB/TE Hunter Swoboda Catching Recruiting Interest after Standout Sophomore Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

There is a talent movement going on in central Arkansas that has not been seen since perhaps the 1990’s. The once talent rich areas around the capital city seemed to dry up with most of the talent coming out of the now very fertile recruiting grounds in the northwest part of the state throughout the 2000’s. In recent years but especially over the last two years, the schools in and around Pulaski County have started a comeback in producing next level players with Robinson High School jumping out as a leader for the 2016 season.

The Senators posted a 9-3 mark in 2015 with senior quarterback Brennen Johnson and senior all-purpose back T.J. Hammonds (Arkansas Razorbacks) leading the way. Robinson had a strong team but a young team. A lot of that youth will be seniors during the 2016 campaign. Guys like running back Myles Fells, transfer wide receiver Koilan Jackson (Parkview), offensive lineman Sanderson Hines, and defensive lineman David Porter will be on the list of college recruiters nationwide. One of the leaders and a big part of the talented youth movement in 2015 was sophomore tight end/linebacker Hunter Swoboda.

No one could have predicted the year the Class of 2018 rising star ended up producing. Swoboda had a team-high 119 tackles, 29 solo, seven tackles for a loss, two sacks, four pass deflections, forced two fumbles, and added a fumble recovery. On offense, the 6’4”, 205 pound, athlete had seven receptions for 134 yards with two scores.

More and more colleges are reaching into the Natural State for talent putting the two primary Division-I powerhouses, Arkansas and Arkansas State, into a quicker response time to evaluate and handout scholarship offers. Although Swoboda is still a sophomore, he already is generating interest from Memphis, Northwestern, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, and Arkansas.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Swoboda to go over his sophomore season, his offseason camp schedule, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Hunter, you had a great season last year at tight end and linebacker. Did you start at both positions?

“Yes.”

Of the two, which position do you like best?

“I like linebacker. I like to hit people. I was not involved in the passing attack as much. I was more of a blocker.”

As the 2015 season went along, what were some of the strides you made improving your game as a linebacker?

“I definitely stopped being nervous and afraid to hit people. At first I was nervous about going up against bigger guys. I got over that pretty quick. You have to make the play and put your body on the line. It does not matter how big you are out there. You have to give 110 percent every play.”

What honors did you earn at the end of your sophomore season?

“I was one of the 10 Super Sophomores. I was one of the top two or three tacklers as a sophomore. I earned All-Conference, and Nathan Page and I were the only Super Sophomores from the same school.”

*Nathan Page (wide receiver/safety) had a team-high 44 receptions for 731 yards with eight touchdowns, 260 kick return yards, 116 punt return yards, and 202 yards on the ground off 16 carries. On defense, Page had 81 tackles, two tackles for a loss, and picked off six passes.

What parts of your game are you working on this offseason?

“This year Coach (Brian) Maupin has me working on my speed and quickness. I was not as fast last season. I played more with my head. Now I am working on my speed so I can get to the ball quicker. I can tell I’m getting a lot faster and stronger already. I’ve been working on bench and squat a lot.”

What camps are you going to coming up?

“I’m definitely going to the Arkansas State camps. I went to ASU camps last summer. I’m planning on going to Louisiana Tech and maybe an Arkansas camp.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?

“We visited Arkansas State a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been to Louisiana Tech. Coming up, I’m going to Memphis on Saturday.”

How did your visit to Arkansas State go?

“I liked it. I like their facility. It really was pretty cool there.”

How did your visit to Louisiana Tech go?

“I went down there with a group of guys. We watched them practice and I got a feel for it down there. It was really cool how they ran their practices.”

What have you learned about the college experience from your visits so far?

“From what I could tell at LA-Tech, their guys are not messing around in practice and they are all huge. We were like “wow.” We noticed how they took their job seriously. They were having fun but with their coaches doing their job the whole time.”

How is everything going in the classroom?

“I have a 3.8 GPA.”

What are your favorite subjects?

“Right now my favorite is history but math is a close second.”

You’re on spring break this week. What are you doing on your spring break?

“We visited family in Houston and went to a rodeo. Then we went to Waco and went by Baylor and Texas A&M and then headed back home.”

Hunter, enjoy the rest of your spring break and good luck with your visit to Memphis.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Brian Maupin; Hunter at the Nike Regional in Dallas 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Maupin; Hunter at Robinson High School (2015).