Father knew best.
Football is a family affair for Zach Hultgren, a standout on the offensive line for Burlington Central. It’s helped Hultgren, a 6-foot-5, 280-pound junior, emerge as a force at left tackle for the Rockets.
Hultgren, who’s in his first season as a varsity starter, saw plenty of action last season as a sophomore reserve on offense and defense. He’s also riding the rising tide of college recruiting.
“This last year, he has really dedicated himself to the weight room, and the gains have been incredible,” Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi said of Hultgren. “We saw Zach’s potential when he was a freshman, especially if he would fill out like he has.”
Hultgren was 6-3 and 180 pounds in eighth grade. Iossi said Hultgren has added 40 pounds of muscle, making strides with 6-3, 250-pound junior center Henry Crumlett, his workout partner.
The most recent summer for Hultgren was filled with work at college camps and visits, followed by game-day visits this fall. The recruiting interest has picked up over the last six months.
He has five offers from MAC schools that started in June and include Eastern Michigan, Akron, Miami of Ohio and Northern Illinois. Power Four schools are also interested.
Zach Hultgren took heed and listened to the counsel of his father Eric, a 1993 East Aurora graduate who played college football at Air Force but hurt his knee and then walked on at Iowa.
Eric Hultgren, who is 6-1, played defensive line and linebacker. He was a longtime assistant coach at Wheaton North, where he teaches, before joining Iossi’s staff as a defensive line coach.
Zach’s younger brother, Ben, is currently a sophomore on the varsity for Rockets.
“It’s good competition,” Zach Hultgren said. “Occasionally, I get to block him.”
Contact drew him to the game.
“I liked hitting people,” Zach said.
He also plays basketball and throws for the track team but started in sports with baseball and wrestling. His first taste of football came while playing safety for Batavia’s flag program.
“I think Zach has always wanted to play college football,” Eric Hultgren said. “I played, but his mom (Kristin) and I were not going to push the issue with him. It was something he enjoyed.”
His father saw the possibilities as soon as Zach began “to sprout up in height.”
The line, according to his dad, just might be the place to be.
“He was thin, but I’ve coached football for some 20-odd years and I knew he wasn’t going to be a wide receiver,” Eric Hultgren said. “That wasn’t going to be his life path for football. I told him if he wanted to play college football, playing offensive line would probably be his path.
“Then he worked really hard. Last year, he got some reps and did a nice job. He didn’t start, but when he had the opportunity, he made the most of it.”
It has helped college coaches to see his potential.
“They’ve encouraged me to continue to play basketball to help my footwork,” said Zach, who was voted one of the Rockets’ captains by his teammates and carries a 4.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale. “I’m early in the process. I just want to figure out what works for me.”
Hultgren, who also has done offseason work with both OL Mafia in Naperville and FIST Academy for linemen based in St. Charles, is now focused on the rest of the season for the Rockets (4-2).
Burlington Central is one win away from becoming playoff eligible for the first time in 10 years, with three games remaining — against Prairie Ridge (5-1), Hampshire (1-5) and Huntley (4-2).
“Three shots,” Hultgren said. “We really want it. This is the group to do it. We have a lot of weapons and the team vibe is there. I love this team and I’m excited to see what we can do.”
