Lincoln Football DE, Skyler Hoefs '28, 6'1 208lbs
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Every Football Player Has A Story To Tell
Jersey: #58 / Position: Defensive End / 6’1 & 208lbs / 40 yrd dash: 5.28 sec. / Shuttle: 4.5 sec. / Vertical: 25.4in. / Bench: 165lbs / Squat: 375lbs / Deadlift: 415lbs
Skyler Hoefs Is Just Getting Started
Most kids pick up a football and dream of the lights. Skyler Hoefs picked up a football and fell in love with the weight room.
“I actually started football in 7th grade to lose weight,” Hoefs said. “My parents hired a personal trainer and I worked out with him during PE every day. I fell in love with the weight room and the results I was seeing. I didn’t lose weight, but I gained muscle and became healthy, which is the most important part.”
That foundation has built something serious. Hoefs is a 6’1, 208-pound defensive end out of Lincoln High School, Class of 2028. He runs a verified 4.5 pro shuttle, squats 375, and deadlifts 415. He has spent the last two years training pass rush with Underdog out of St. Charles, and it shows up every snap.
“The strongest part of my game right now is a combination of my get off from the snap and my pass rushing moves. I have worked with Underdog Pass Rush the last two years and have been able to develop those skills into one package.”
What makes Hoefs interesting is how he wins. At 6’1 he knows he will be undersized at the next level, so he has built his game around his brain.
“My style comes from my football knowledge and film study. I have a very fast get off and am able to use that to my advantage to win on the first step and use my moves to finish.”
That film obsession is his biggest focus heading into his junior season, which might surprise people who know how much time he spends training physically.
“I enjoy watching film with my dad and breaking down plays to get a better understanding of each play, how to identify it, and in turn helping the game slow down for me when I’m on the field.”
This summer Hoefs has been all over Illinois and Missouri competing at college camps and showcases. The lesson he is taking away is simple but easy to overlook.
“It’s not about doing the drills the fastest or the strongest. It’s about doing the drills right. I’m really putting an emphasis on walking through drills slow to make sure I’m doing them correctly, speeding it up gradually, and once I’m comfortable doing them full speed.”
The person who set him on this path was not a coach. It was Zach Poole, who reached out to Hoefs as an incoming freshman and took him under his wing.
“He’s continued to encourage me at the next level and has always been there to support me and help get me ready for competition.”
As for Lincoln football this season, Hoefs sees a program turning a corner under new head coach Aaron Fricke. He expects a more explosive offense, an aggressive defense, and a team with a winning culture that has fully bought in. The name to watch, in his opinion, is Hunter Clark.
“Hunter had a good season last year and since then he has only gotten stronger, faster, and improved his agility.”
Off the field, Hoefs is defined by his faith, his family, and a one-year-old little brother he takes seriously as a role model for.
“My relationship with God is very important to me. And being 15 years older than my brother, being a good example to him is really important to me.”
He keeps his days on a consistent routine, same bedtime, same meals, same workout times, same homework windows. That structure, he says, is what keeps everything from slipping.
Skyler Hoefs is a junior with a veteran’s mindset. Coaches would do well to get familiar with him now.
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