Weekly Interview Series: Ryan Hilinski Updates Fall Camp with 2018 Week 1 Game Preview

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Entering the 2018 California high school football season, Class of 2019 quarterback Ryan Hilinski has everything going his way. The 6-4, 225-pound, gun slinger has two years of varsity starting experience with Orange Lutheran rolling round in his keen mind and has fantastic talent at the skill positions ready to receive a pass with a run game to keep defenses honest. The key targets for Hilinski in 2018 are receivers Kyle Ford, Logan Loya, and KJ Trujillo, tight ends Ethan Rae and Elijah Mojarro, and running back Reggie Strong, just to name a few. Hilinski has also closed the door on his recruiting process committing to the South Carolina Gamecocks on April 4, 2018, over 20-plus other offers allowing for complete focus on the task ahead.

Orange Lutheran enters the 2018 season ranked No. 3 in California, No. 6 nationally. For most teams, that would be a shoo-in for a state title run with serious national title contention, but life in California is not that easy. The Lancers kickoff the season with non-conference action against San Juan Hills followed by Centennial (Corona), Vista Murrieta, Heritage (Romoland), and Mission Viejo before even starting Trinity League action against Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco, JSerra Catholic, Servite, and Mater Dei. For further insight, per MaxPreps, St. John Bosco is preseason No. 1 and Mater Dei is No. 2. Mission Viejo is ranked No. 13 nationally, No. 6 in California, while Centennial is No. 23 nationally and No. 9 in California. The rankings do not shed a complete light on how dangerous every team on the Lancers’ schedule is in 2018; there are no cupcakes on the schedule.

With state and national title aspirations being the ultimate goals, extremely talented players on both sides of OLU’s pigskin, and a regular season schedule that is one of the toughest in the nation, Hilinski embarks on putting it all together for a season to remember. In the first of a weekly series with the four-star quarterback that will run throughout the season, I got a few minutes with Hilinski getting an update on the Lancers’ progress in fall camp, a preview of the San Juan Hills contest, and a quick look at how he is helping build the Gamecocks’ 2019 recruiting class.

*Click link for July 8, 2018, RNG interview with Ryan Hilinski

Interview

Ryan, I know you have put in countless hours working on your game over the spring and summer months. Since fall camp with the Lancers started, what have you been working on with your game?

“The biggest thing for us doing the spread in Year 2 is our chemistry. A lot of guys have been staying after practice to work on routes. I have been working with the younger guys to get the chemistry down. On timing routes, if you have the chemistry you are unbeatable. Everything is right in my world entering the season; the mental side, the run game, my audibles – knowing when to check out or check into things and which side to run to based on the defense. The timing with my receivers is one of the biggest things I have been working on in fall camp.”

How has the chemistry flowed between you and your receivers over the summer months and throughout fall camp?

“I was gone for a while with the Nike Opening and the Five-Star Challenge, I missed a lot of summer practices. Kyle (Ford) and I were at a lot of the same events this summer keeping that chemistry going. Logan (Loya) and I worked to get it back down, the same with Ethan (Rae) and Elijah Mojarro. We have other guys stepping up. It is good to get back in with them and work on everything. We have a bye after Week 3 and then seven straight games, we have to be ready to go in Week 1. It will be big for us to get that chemistry down now so we can roll into Trinity League play ready to go.”

If you will, walk me through your week-long game prep for the opener against San Juan Hills?

“It started on Saturday. Our coaches got film on them, and I went home on Saturday after our scrimmage to start watching the film. We watched it as a team to get a base feel and to see who their best players are this year. On Sunday, all the OLU coaches go into the meeting to talk about likes and dislikes. Coach Crawford and I go over what we see and what we both like. On Monday, we did install stuff for plays we want to run. On Tuesday, we did situational work. On Wednesday, we go over everything. Thursday is a walk-through practice and Friday is the game.”

Without giving away too much of the game plan, how do you plan on attacking the Stallions defense?

“We have a lot of great receivers and we have good running backs, and we have depth. We have good running backs that can run it down the opposition’s throat, we have two great tight ends, and great receivers – it will be a mixture of both the run and the pass. We will try to beat them with our guys verses theirs.”

As a leader on OLU’s squad, how will you or how have you set the tone for the team especially on offense?

“I think the biggest thing for this year is we have a talented group and all the seniors are focused. We have a lot of alumni around the program trying to bring back that vibe when they were winning titles. Our QB coach was in the game against Long Beach Poly when they lost 2-0. A lot of our alumni have helped me be a boisterous leader. If you see the QB ripping dimes down the field, that gives confidence to other guys to go out and give it their all.”

Thanks for the in-depth breakdown on the offense and facing San Juan Hills on Friday. Turning to your recruiting, have you already taken your official visit set to South Carolina?

“Yes. I took my official at the beginning of May. They had a big recruiting weekend, so I took it then. I will visit for the Georgia game (Sept. 8), that will be a big SEC clash. I plan on going to a couple of games during the season.”

Are you helping with recruiting, and if so, how are you helping?

“Yeah. I am helping. I am trying to do my part. I helped get Keveon Mullins (four-star ATH from Whitehaven HS) on the board. He was with Memphis but flipped to South Carolina. There are a couple of other guys I am talking to from Tennessee and Georgia in hopes of getting them to commit to South Carolina. The QB is the name piece to get in each class. Guys want to play with a good QB. Our recruiting is going well. Coach (Will) Muschamp is great at that. Hopefully, we will get a couple of more to join soon.”

Do you talk regularly to the South Carolina coaching staff?

“I am. They text me about every day – Coach Muschamp does text me every day in group chat with my parents. Coach (Dan) Werner (quarterbacks) and I talk regularly. It has gone by fast, he has been saying you will be here in four months and now it is in three months. Coach (Bryan) McClendon (offensive coordinator) and I keep in regular contact.”

Have any of the coaches offered words of advice for you entering your senior season?

“They keep telling me to do what I have been doing, that is why they wanted me. Just keep getting better and progress as much as I can.”

Ryan, I appreciate your time today. Good luck against San Juan Hills on Friday.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Ryan Hilinski at the Elite 11 Finals