Interview: 4-Star 2022 DE Gracen Halton Adding More RB Duties to 2020 Resume

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

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It is bad enough that offensive linemen have to take on four-star Class of 2022 defensive end Gracen Halton full-time, but now defenders across the board are going to have to take on the 6-4, 250-pound, beast. Halton worked his craft with St. Augustine a year ago on defense coming up with 55 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries, six pass breakups, two picks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He received limited snaps out of the Saints’ backfield going for 83 yards on six carries while pulling in three passes for 49 yards with a score. But the big man will be turned loose against California D-I teams from the running back position once the 2020 season kicks off leading to early hand wringing by Western League defenders months in advance.

In an update Q&A interview, Halton breaks down his offseason workouts with an update on his ever-growing recruiting process.

*Click link for May 12 RNG interview with Gracen Halton

Interview

Gracen, you are an amazing defensive player but I want to focus on the nightmares you are giving kids in San Diego every night this summer thinking about having to tackle you as a running back. What have you been working on with that part of your game to prepare for a bigger role out of the backfield during the 2020 season?

Getting faster and getting my legs stronger in the weight room. I’ve been playing running back my whole life, since youth ball. Playing running back this season will be nothing new for me. I am ready to get back there and do my thing.

You just touched on this, going deeper… what are some of the lifts and workouts you are doing to add more explosion and twitch to your game?

I am working on my hip flexors and my mobility doing cone and footwork drills. This summer I have been working on my legs mostly, your legs have to be strong.

Have you maxed out in the weight room this summer?

Only on bench. My bench max is 300.

How have you kept your conditioning up over the summer months?

We have workouts at school, I do my conditioning there. Sometimes I go home and run some more and hit the weight room again.

What are you doing, sprints or long-distance runs?

I’ve been running hills, running cone to cone to get quicker and stronger. I am getting my wind up running sprints. My speed trainer is working with me on hurdles.

Hurdles?

Yes. I hurdled over 42 inches.

Impressive.

Thank you.

Preparing for your role at end, how have you worked to improve your hands?

Right now, I am not doing much with my hands. Towards the start of the season I will get back to it. Right now, I am just working on my speed.

Which moves are you working on this summer or does that fall in line with working on your hands?

It does. I am waiting on working with my hands and on my moves for when I can start working on my moves with my offensive linemen. I don’t have an offensive lineman to work off of right now.

From our previous conversation, I know you took unofficial visits to UCLA and USC. Virtual visits are the new thing, have you gone on any of those yet?

No, but I did Zoom meetings seeing the campus with Oregon.

When you start taking these visits again and/or when you take your next virtual visit, what are you seeking to learn?

As a football player, I want to see the locker room and weight room. I also want to know how does the school look around the campus.

Do you have any planned visits set for the future?

No, but they are coming soon.

Which schools are now showing interest but have not offered?

San Jose State, Colorado, and Oklahoma.

Where is the offer total now?

At 15 offers.

Which programs were the last couple to offer?

Cal, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas.

Halton’s Offer Sheet: Arizona State, California, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, San Diego State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, USC, Washington, and Washington State

Very cool. In California, the start of the 2020 season is set to begin in January. As a leader on the Saints roster, how have you and how will you keep all your teammates focused on the goal of winning league and CIF over the coming fall months?

We have player drills we are doing, that is how I was taken in as a freshman. You have to be coachable to play the game; I will coach them up and make sure they are doing the right thing to get them prepared for varsity football.

Gracen, it was great catching up with you today. Thanks for your time and good luck with your workouts this extended offseason.

Thank you.

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Photo credit: Halton family; Gracen Halton