Interview: Mississippi Lewisburg High School Producing another Under the Radar Gem in RB Ben Hoffman

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The last two seasons many people have overlooked Lewisburg High School for various reasons. In 2014 the team produced a 4-8 record and in 2015 are off to a tough start at 2-4 after losing to Center Hill 33-30 in overtime in Week 6.

Win-loss records, much like stat lines, do not always measure the stock of a team or a player. The Patriots are a scrappy team that has put up a big fight against every team that have come across over the last two seasons with a few core guys helping lead the charge, offensive tackle/defensive tackle Preston Haynes (6’5”, 310), quarterback Jake Harville (6’4”, 215), and running back Ben Hoffman are a couple that come to mind immediately.

Hoffman is a battering ram coming out of the backfield having a breakout senior season. In 2014, the 5’10”, 220 pound, athlete rushed for 495 yards on just 69 carries with two scores and caught 21 passes for another 266 yards with four additional touchdowns. The under the radar recruit is now the featured back for Lewisburg having rushed for 790 yards and seven touchdowns on 84 carries showing off his 4.4 40-yard dash speed and has continued to show his versatility with 12 receptions for another 139 yards with three more scores.

Perhaps due to Lewisburg’s record college recruiters have skipped attending Patriots’ games missing out on some next level talent. Hoffman does have interest from Davidson, Mississippi College, Millsaps, and University of West but surprisingly is seeking that first collegiate offer.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Ben to learn more about how the Patriots’ 2015 season has gone to date and how the team is looking finishing out their schedule and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Ben, going into your senior season what were some of the things you worked on to improve for the 2015 schedule?

“Not just me but our entire running back staff was a physical team last season. We were a bunch of downhill runners, are still are but in the offseason one of the main things I worked on was my agility. I also worked on having that vision in the hole and I worked on my speed as well as the mental aspects of the games.”

From all the hard work you put in during the offseason, what differences are you seeing on the field this year?

“My game personally, statistically it has been really good for me so far this year. I see it in myself and the entire team atmosphere, as far as when the team needs to depend on our running game, and that’s not just me but also our offensive line working so hard this year, but I believe that being the big physical back that I am and being able to have the mental aspect of the game where I can see the hole. That has definitely helped me with my total yards per game but has also helped me get those crucial yards when we need a first down. If we need six instead of four I can get it by more than just lowering my shoulder.”

I know the team is off to a tough start at 2-4 with a close overtime loss to Center Hill, but how does the team look going forward? This maybe an unfair question but do you think you guys will still make the playoffs?

“Of course I’ll be a little biased just because it’s my team, but I promise everything I’m saying is true and I feel in my core everything I’m about to say is true, but I do believe we have a firm shot the playoffs. I believe we have the great team atmosphere and great team comradery even though we have started off pretty rough like you said. I’m coming off that really tough rivalry loss against Hill, but that gives us more fuel to the fire to get out there and work hard and stay focused. Our whole team’s motto is to be focused. I think we have the skill set and players to make it happen as a team.”

I know you’re half way through your schedule but is there a team left that you are excited to play coming up?

“Absolutely, I’m one of those guys the better the competition the better I play. I’m not one of those guys looking to play weak teams for stats or to look better. I like playing harder competition. Oxford is always high up on my list in regards to being excited to play them and excited to face them because there is no doubt about it, their name is out there and they are a really good team. It’s always fun to show your best against their best. To me that is what the sport is all about.”

What are your strengths on the field as a running back? You’ve talked a little bit about your vision, waiting for the hole to open up, and being a physical runner but top to bottom what makes you a good running back?

“Honestly, from just not watching myself on film or from the coaches but from people talking to me it’s pretty obvious that I’m not a wiry quick back that’s going to get out in the open and show you my forty speed. I’m a physical back. I like to do what it takes to get the first down. Not necessarily a juke, cut, or spin move but lowering my shoulder against a linebacker that outweighs me by 20 pounds, I don’t have any problems doing that. I’m a pretty hefty back especially for high school. Honestly, if I were to say anything I’d say my key asset is my physicality and my size.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season? I know some of the goals can get adjusted as the season goes along, but what goals did you enter the season with and what are your goals going forward?

“I know a lot of guys, especially in high school, like to put their numbers out there first saying “hey I’m going to get 1,000 yards and this many touchdowns and hey I want to get looked at by these D-I schools” but coming into the season I did not have any numerical goals. All I had coming into the season was knowing that I was a leader on the team and knowing that this is my senior season. The only goals I really had was to build that bond with the team and be the leader that I needed to be to get us into the playoffs.”

Well said. A little more about you, which game has been your best so far this season? This can be from a stat line standpoint or for any other reason out there.

“My best game was coming out of the gate. Statistically it was by best game too but I was so amped up to be out there on the field after all that time being away but finally playing against another team. My best game so far was against Raleigh-Egypt High (Memphis). I ended up, I believe, with 225 yards. I just felt in sync with everything. The whole team felt in sync. It’s hard to come out every week with that same mentality but I think that is what we are striving for and we are doing a pretty good job doing that but against Raleigh that was probably my best game so far this season.”

Which schools are recruiting you right now?

“There are four schools that have shown interest, one being Davidson College out of North Carolina, another being University of West out of Pensacola, Florida, the other two being Millsaps College out of Jackson, Mississippi, and the other being Mississippi College.

Did you go to any one-day college camps over the summer?

“I did. I went to a couple not many just because I had to work and being at home but I went to Tulane and University of Westwood camp.”

Do you have any unofficial visits set up yet?

“I’ve been talking to Mississippi College about setting one up.”

Do you have an ACT or SAT score you don’t mind sharing?

“I got a 29 on my ACT and I have a 3.7 GPA.”

That should help immensely in your college recruiting. Last question, what is your favorite part of playing football?

“My favorite part about playing football hands down is the bond that I get to create not only with my teammates but also the coaching staff and our managers. Of course people are going to say the team is my brother but people that don’t play football don’t understand the comradery. The comradery we make and we create throughout the season and the offseason – I see these guys that could be doing so many other things with their day but come out there and they work not only for themselves and for me but for the other guys on the team too. It’s such a humbling experience to know we have guys like that out there. Hands down for me it is the comradery I create with the team and the coaching staff.”

Ben, thanks for your time today. Good luck the rest of the way.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: hudl.com; No. 6 Ben Hoffman.

Photo credit: Hoffman family.