Class fo 2017 Gophers football recruit, Eric Rousemiller, is also a three-time national weightlifting champ!
Eric Rousemiller, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound rising junior center from Lakeville (MN) South, is considered one of the state’s top player from the Class of 2017 and perhaps his own toughest critic. Rousemiller, who recently won his third national power lifting competition, recently attended a Gopher football camp, where he felt that he might have pressed too hard to impress the Gopher coaches.
Rousemiller helped lead the Cougars to a 3-6 mark as a sophomore, losing to Eagan 30-29 in the first round of the Class 6A, Section 3 football playoffs.
Rousemiller placed first in the recent boy’s 16-17 +105-kilogram class, held in Bloomington. It was his third national championship overall and his second in the USA Weightlifting nationals. Rousemiller made all three of his lifts in the snatch, including a personal record of 115Kg (253 pounds), to take a 17Kg lead going into the clean and jerk. His opening lift in the clean and jerk of 130Kg (286 pounds) secured the national championship with a 250Kg total. He was the only national champion from Minnesota.
Gopher Hole caught up with Rousemiller Wednesday afternoon to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: You were recently down at Minnesota two weeks ago. What was that experience like?
Eric Rousemiller: It was a rough day for me. I came in trying to impress the coaches. When we did one-on-ones, I kind of went in for the “kill” shot and just changed the way that I played. Didn’t set my feet up. Didn’t work on my hands very well and it didn’t work out for me, but “bounce back” time.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are very big in the power lifting and recently won your third national title. You have to be pretty proud of that?
Eric Rousemiller: For sure. It was a great experience. It has its ups and downs, like while I’m doing it, it gets me a lot stronger and a lot more powerful, but also takes up a ton of time and I wasn’t able to get myself out there for camps during the beginning of the summer because I was so focused on that weightlifting.
Gopher Hole: When is your next competition or is that it for a while?
Eric Rousemiller: Until December, I think. It is a just a local meet down in Cannon Falls that the high school team competes at.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think that helps you as a football player? It takes away from some things like you said, but in terms of strength and using your hands, how much does that help?
Eric Rousemiller: It helps me a lot because it creates so much power and I am a powerful football player. That is one of my best attributes and believe it or not, it makes you faster. A lot of lifting might make you slower, but the things I do, will make me faster.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to go to many football camps this summer?
Eric Rousemiller: No. I was just at the Minnesota one. That might have been the reason that I was trying so hard to impress people because I needed to get out there.
Gopher Hole: Did you get a chance to go to many college football games last year?
Eric Rousemiller: I am best friends with Mitch Leidner’s brother, Jake and he always had me come out with him to the games. It was a great experience. I love Minnesota. Hopefully, this fall, I’ll be able to get out there some more.
Gopher Hole: What things have you really been focused on, now that the power lifting is done, to continue to improve yourself as a football player?
Eric Rousemiller: Hands and feet. That is what I have been doing. Basically, I just to keep my feet under me and keep them moving in and work on not lunging on my pass pro and just being patient.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to play college football?
Eric Rousemiller: It has always been my dream since I could play football, since I could walk, honestly. I have been watching Gopher football since I was I able to watch it, I guess and it would just be huge for me.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to maybe play for the home state school?
Eric Rousemiller: It would be an incredible experience, I think and to have people who know me, be able to come see me, would be just awesome.
Gopher Hole: You obviously know a couple of players with Mitch and Matt (Leidner) both being Lakeville South kids. Would that make it even more special?
Eric Rousemiller: For sure, no doubt. If I can follow in those guy’s footsteps, that would be great.
Gopher Hole: What position are most schools looking at you playing in college?
Eric Rousemiller: Center or guard. I’m not really sure if I am college center. If I am, that would be awesome. I would be ready to play whatever.
Gopher Hole: Your dad is not only your power lifting coach, but he is also the offensive line coach at South. What is it like to work with him?
Eric Rousemiller: Never cuts me any slack, that is for sure. He is always pushing on me and I think that has helped me a ton in what I have been doing because it is one way of looking at him like he is my dad and another one is as a coach, but when it is both, it is awesome.
Gopher Hole: Does it ever get hard sometimes?
Eric Rousemiller: Yes. It is always “Hey, someone grab a bag over for practice and Eric, you are the one.” Every single time. I have gotten used to it, though.
Gopher Hole: You have an older brother, who was also a top power lifter and played football. Where is he going to be?
Eric Rousemiller: He is going to be at the University of Minnesota. He’ll be throwing hammer for track and field. He is going to be a freshman this year
Gopher Hole: Obviously, that will be another reason that Minnesota would be attractive?
Eric Rousemiller: Yes. To go to school with him would be awesome.
Gopher Hole: You also used to basketball and track, right?
Eric Rousemiller: I quit basketball a couple of years ago. I did that just to keep my feet sound, but lifting got in the way of that, so I have just been doing some extra running. I do intramural basketball in the winter.
Gopher Hole: Lakeville South had a young team last season. What are the expectations for the upcoming season?
Eric Rousemiller: Improvement, for sure. I think that we are going to be a lot luckier. I say that because we beat ourselves probably three games in the year and if we could have just changed our mistakes, we would have won, so I think that this year, we are going to limit those. We are going to bring a lot more intensity to the games. Our practices have changed, which is awesome. We are moving around more and I think that we are going to be ready for the season.
Gopher Hole: What colleges are you hearing from right now?
Eric Rousemiller: On Twitter, I am talking to a coach from Wisconsin. I have talked to South Dakota. I have gotten lots of camp info from all over the place, but mainly Wisconsin and Minnesota have been contacting me.
Gopher Hole: Have you talked to some schools about going to some games this fall since you weren’t able to go to as many camps as you would have liked?
Eric Rousemiller: Not so much yet. I am hoping to this fall, just trying to get in more contact with more coaches because then I don’t have to reach out as much, which is kind of a tough thing to do as being young and everything and they can contact me, which would help a ton.