In high school, Jack Hockaday did it all at Maroa-Forsyth, starring on both sides of the ball for four years and setting several records, including the most career yards in state history. Now, the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Hockaday is taking his talents to Iowa City where he will play linebacker for the Hawkeyes in college. We caught up with the Illinois native to talk about his upcoming freshman year, what his mindset is coming in, and much more.
Q: What have you been up to this spring?
HOCKADAY: This spring has been great. I've been working out hard and just trying to get ready for college. Right now, I'm as big and strong as I've ever been and just ready to get started.
Q: What is your height and weight at right now?
HOCKADAY: I'm at 6-1, 217 right now.
Q: What have the workouts been like since you got into them?
HOCKADAY: They've been good and I also have a trainer that I've been working with and he's really helped me a lot. Things have been going good.
Q: Do you play any other sports after football?
HOCKADAY: Well, I used to play basketball my freshman, sophomore, and junior year, but I didn't play this year, so football was it.
Q: So your main focus has just been finishing up school and getting ready for Iowa?
HOCKADAY: Yeah. Today, was actually my last day where I work too, so now I'll just be training probably six days a week.
Q: When are you actually making the move up to Iowa?
HOCKADAY: June 14.
Q: Are you there all summer basically?
HOCKADAY: Yeah, I'll be taking classes and working out.
Q: What made you want to get up there right away?
HOCKADAY: Just to get used to the strength and conditioning stuff and get the playbook down. Also, just to get there and compete. I just want to get in there and do what I can.
Q: You were up there for the spring game. What was that like when you visit now that you are so close to being out there yourself? Is it a little different?
HOCKADAY: Yeah, it was a little different actually. I was trying to picture myself in there and what I would do in those situations and how I would react. I'm kind of just preparing myself for what's about to happen.
Q: Which linebacker position do they see you starting out at?
HOCKADAY: Either WILL or LEO they're saying right now. I think one of those two positions.
Q: What's kind of your mindset or your goals coming into your freshman year?
HOCKADAY: My goal is to go in there and work as hard as I can and just compete. I don't really think I'll have any problems with that. I've always been super competitive and I've worked really hard, so I'm just going to do those things and let the rest take care of itself. I can't really control anything else besides how hard I work and how hard I compete.
Q: Have they told you if there is a good chance for a linebacker to come in and play as a freshman?
HOCKADAY: Just in regards to asking if I'm going to redshirt or not, they said it just depends on if I can play or not. If I'm ready to play, I'll play. If not, I'll probably redshirt. It all just depends on how I do when I get there.
Q: Have you found out what number you are wearing in college?
HOCKADAY: No, I haven't yet. Hopefully #9.
Q: Have you had a chance to look back on your high school career at this point and some of the things you were able to accomplish?
HOCKADAY: I don't know. I haven't really thought about it that much. I'm just focused more on what's ahead, not really looking back on the past, but it's been a good, successful four years and I've had a great time playing here.
Q: Were you aware of some of the records you broke like career yards in state history?
HOCKADAY: No, actually I didn't even know at all. One day at school, my coach told me I broke the record for all-time career yards in Illinois, so that was pretty shocking. I didn't even know I was close. I guess it was a good accomplishment, but it's really attributed to my teammates and all the work that we put in through the four years that I was there.
Q: When you look towards the future, what do you think is going to be the biggest adjustment once you start college practice and everything in August?
HOCKADAY: The biggest adjustment will just be the speed of the game. It will be so much faster and the players will be a lot bigger, so I'll have to adjust for that.
Q: Your senior year you had Missouri and some other schools come in and try to change your mind. What was it about Iowa that made you pick them and stick with it?
HOCKADAY: Just the family atmosphere there. The coaches were all really welcoming and the players all loved it, so you could just tell that it was a good program and one that I wanted to be a part of.
Q: What have you been up to this spring?
HOCKADAY: This spring has been great. I've been working out hard and just trying to get ready for college. Right now, I'm as big and strong as I've ever been and just ready to get started.
Q: What is your height and weight at right now?
HOCKADAY: I'm at 6-1, 217 right now.
Q: What have the workouts been like since you got into them?
HOCKADAY: They've been good and I also have a trainer that I've been working with and he's really helped me a lot. Things have been going good.
Q: Do you play any other sports after football?
HOCKADAY: Well, I used to play basketball my freshman, sophomore, and junior year, but I didn't play this year, so football was it.
Q: So your main focus has just been finishing up school and getting ready for Iowa?
HOCKADAY: Yeah. Today, was actually my last day where I work too, so now I'll just be training probably six days a week.
Q: When are you actually making the move up to Iowa?
HOCKADAY: June 14.
Q: Are you there all summer basically?
HOCKADAY: Yeah, I'll be taking classes and working out.
Q: What made you want to get up there right away?
HOCKADAY: Just to get used to the strength and conditioning stuff and get the playbook down. Also, just to get there and compete. I just want to get in there and do what I can.
Q: You were up there for the spring game. What was that like when you visit now that you are so close to being out there yourself? Is it a little different?
HOCKADAY: Yeah, it was a little different actually. I was trying to picture myself in there and what I would do in those situations and how I would react. I'm kind of just preparing myself for what's about to happen.
Q: Which linebacker position do they see you starting out at?
HOCKADAY: Either WILL or LEO they're saying right now. I think one of those two positions.
Q: What's kind of your mindset or your goals coming into your freshman year?
HOCKADAY: My goal is to go in there and work as hard as I can and just compete. I don't really think I'll have any problems with that. I've always been super competitive and I've worked really hard, so I'm just going to do those things and let the rest take care of itself. I can't really control anything else besides how hard I work and how hard I compete.
Q: Have they told you if there is a good chance for a linebacker to come in and play as a freshman?
HOCKADAY: Just in regards to asking if I'm going to redshirt or not, they said it just depends on if I can play or not. If I'm ready to play, I'll play. If not, I'll probably redshirt. It all just depends on how I do when I get there.
Q: Have you found out what number you are wearing in college?
HOCKADAY: No, I haven't yet. Hopefully #9.
Q: Have you had a chance to look back on your high school career at this point and some of the things you were able to accomplish?
HOCKADAY: I don't know. I haven't really thought about it that much. I'm just focused more on what's ahead, not really looking back on the past, but it's been a good, successful four years and I've had a great time playing here.
Q: Were you aware of some of the records you broke like career yards in state history?
HOCKADAY: No, actually I didn't even know at all. One day at school, my coach told me I broke the record for all-time career yards in Illinois, so that was pretty shocking. I didn't even know I was close. I guess it was a good accomplishment, but it's really attributed to my teammates and all the work that we put in through the four years that I was there.
Q: When you look towards the future, what do you think is going to be the biggest adjustment once you start college practice and everything in August?
HOCKADAY: The biggest adjustment will just be the speed of the game. It will be so much faster and the players will be a lot bigger, so I'll have to adjust for that.
Q: Your senior year you had Missouri and some other schools come in and try to change your mind. What was it about Iowa that made you pick them and stick with it?
HOCKADAY: Just the family atmosphere there. The coaches were all really welcoming and the players all loved it, so you could just tell that it was a good program and one that I wanted to be a part of.
