Nick Rallis, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior safety from Edinia (MN) High who committed to Minnesota this past summer. Rallis is the younger brother of current Gopher linebacker, Mike, and is one of the state’s best players in the Class of 2012. GopherHole.com, who will be at his game this Friday against Lakeville South, recently caught up with Rallis to learn more about his expectations for the upcoming season, his commitment to Minnesota and playing with his brother next season.
Rallis has helped lead the Hornets to a 4-5 record as a junior, losing to Minnetonka 39-0 in the playoffs. He had 242 yards rushing, 106 yard receiving and 47 tackles.
Edina finished 6-6 in his sophomore season, losing to Eden Prairie 51-21 in the second round of the playoffs. Rallis finished second on the team in tackles as a sophomore with 90 total tackles, 60 solos. He had one interception return for 17 yards.
GH: The Hornets are off to a 2-0 start. You have to be pretty pleased with the team’s play so far?
NR: Yes. There is always room for improvement. We just have to put these two wins behind us and get ready for next week. We have a tough opponent.
GH: You are playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker and safety this year. Do you like to play all those spots?
NR: I don’t mind. I am a football guy, so every position excites me and I just play wherever my team needs me to play. Lately, it has been running back, wide receiver, linebacker and safety.
Does that keep you on your toes?
NR: It’s not easy, actually, because when you are playing linebacker and you have to move to move to safety, you are in a different mode. It is not easy to transition, but you get about a play and you are used to play the position.
Do you ever catch yourself saying “Oh, I’m a safety this play not a linebacker.”
NR: That has happened to me before. Playing offense , I’ll come out of the huddle and I’ll be thinking what I am doing at receiver and I am playing running back., but it’s not that hard.
GH: What things have you been working on this summer and fall to not only have a good season, but to get ready for college?
NR: For one, lifting and running to get in shape and getting as strong as I can. I’m am really working on back pedal braking and my linebacker stuff along with playing quarterback and running back. I am trying to work on every little detail I try to do.
GH: You committed to Minnesota last year under head coach Tim Brewster and then re-committed in June? What was the process like?
NR: I was committed with Brewster and obviously, he left. Coach Kill came in and they said that they wanted to see me in camp and it was fine. I have a lot of respect for Coach Kill and he had respect for me. I went to camp and a couple of days later, I committed and I am really glad that I am coming here. This is definitely the right place for me.
GH: You will get a chance to play with your brother next year. How is that going to be?
NR: I can’t even imagine it. I can’t describe what is going to be like because I never thought it was going to happen. He really helps me a lot. It will be helpful for me. He’ll be able to shown the ways of college football and what you have to do to become a better football player. I am looking forward to it.
GH: What position have they said that they are looking at you playing in college?
NR: I am starting at safety at first when I come in and then we’ll see after that.
GH: You brother started out as a safety at Minnesota, but as he got bigger, he moved to linebacker.
NR: I am sure that is what they are thinking for me. Me and my brother are pretty similar players.
GH: You have several players on your Edina team that are Division I caliber. You have a tough schedule facing Eden Prairie, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Hopkins and this week Lakeville South. Do you like playing that tough schedule to get you ready for the playoffs?
NR: Definitely. Those are my favorite games. The harder they are and the more physical the other team is the more physical I play. I love playing against the harder teams.