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Q&A: WR Sean Engel: "My first choice right now would be the Minnesota Gophers"
Q&A: WR Sean Engel: "My first choice right now would be the Minnesota Gophers"
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/403774?referrer_id=388419
Sean Engel, a 6-foot-4 ½, 165-pound rising junior receiver from Chaska (MN) High, is the younger brother of recent Gopher graduate and starting wideout Derrick. Engel helped lead the Hawks to an 11-1 mark last season.
Engel, who shined this past weekend at the Team USA camp, where he had 65-yard touchdown for the Blue team defeated the White squad, will attend the Gopher Junior Elite Camp this weekend and barbeque.
Gopher Hole recently caught up with Engel to learn the latest on his summer plans and recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What camps have you had a chance to go to so far?
Sean Engel: I went to the RAS camp in Indiana. I went to the NUC (National Underclassmen Camp Five Star (in Springfield, Illinois). The Nike Training camp (Chicago) and I went to Sound Mind Sound Body camp in Detroit. I went to the Michigan State, North Dakota, South Dakota State and Wisconsin team camps.
Gopher Hole: You are planning on going down to Minnesota on the 20th, right?
Sean Engel: Yes, for the Junior Elite Camp
Gopher Hole: You have gotten an earlier start than other kids having gone to camp last summer before your sophomore season. Do you think that has helped you know what you are going to go through better than other kids who are going through their first or second camps?
Sean Engel: Yes. It definitely prepared me for the camps that I am going to this year. I feel a lot more confident than I did last year going into these camps against the top competition in the country.
Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a wide receiver?
Sean Engel: I have excellent ball skills. When the quarterback throws it, either I am going to get it or no one is going to get it. I am going to fight for the ball. I run pretty sharp routes. I work on routes a lot in my free time. My hand-eye coordination. I hate to drop balls and I rarely do.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on to continue to improve yourself as a wide receiver?
Sean Engel: Just strength. Upper body. Lower body. If you have strength, that helps with a lot of things, like speed. I am going to try to work on my speed with (trainer) Mark Ellis and my strength program. Try to get stronger and try to elevate my game.
Gopher Hole: What about your high school team? You obviously had a good season last year, making to the state semifinals. I know that you have a coaching change with your head coach, Lambert Brown, leaving to become the athletic director at Maple Grove, but what are the expectations for the Hawks this year?
Sean Engel: We were really close to getting to the state championship game last year and just came up short. This year, we are pretty hungry. We want to get back there. All of our captains and teammates are dedicated and focused on it. For spring, we got together before school and in summer camp, we are all motivated.
Gopher Hole: You lost by just one point (20-19) to Brainerd in the state semifinals. Does that give you even more of a hunger of having come so close to making it to the state championship game at the Metrodome?
Sean Engel: Like you said, we came so close. We are all close friends. Everyone on the football team is like a family. We all trust each other. We all help each other. When someone falls a little bit short, we'll pick them up and help them. We are in it to win it.
Gopher Hole: I know that you lost your standout running back Kolby Seiffert and top receiver Calvin Buesgens, but you return your starting quarterback Justin Arnold. Have you had a chance to work with him much this offseason?
Sean Engel: We have had the captain's practice and started to build some chemistry. He knows what routes I am running and he was at the North Dakota camp that I was at. We had been at different college camps, so we haven't worked out a lot, but we'll build our chemistry.
Gopher Hole: Your brother is also a wide receiver. How much have you gained from him in seeing what he has had to go through?
Sean Engel: Everyone knows the story about him starting out in Division II and moving up and that inspired me. Whenever I feel that I can't go anymore, I know that I can make it if I push myself through it. He had helped me with a lot of stuff, like all my routes. I feel that my routes would not be near as crisp if he hadn't helped with it. We worked together every once in awhile. He is a great brother. He has helped me a lot.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are only going into your junior season, but what schools are you hearing from the most?
Sean Engel: I am getting a lot of interest from South Dakota State, Northern Illinois. Eastern Michigan is pretty interested. Michigan State. A lot of their coaches liked me. Minnesota. I have built a good relationship with a lot of those coaches.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think your relationship with Minnesota since you have been down there a lot because of your brother? How much do you think that has helped because they knew who you were before they maybe even knew how good of a player you have become?
Sean Engel: I can always talk to them about football stuff. They are all good coaches, too. They had a pretty good season last year, so that was awesome.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to possibly have the chance to play at the University of Minnesota?
Sean Engel: It would be huge. That is the college team that I have grown up with. Every Christmas, I get a Gopher jersey and I am the excited kid ever. My first choice right now would be the Minnesota Gophers. I like the coaching staff. They are doing pretty good. They are on the way to building a dynasty and this upcoming 2016 Class has a lot of good ball players and I would like to be a part of it.
Gopher Hole: You are already a little bit taller than your brother. I know that it is still early since you are just going into your junior season and he just graduated, but how would you compare yourself to him? Do you see a lot of similarities in your style? Do you see some things that he does better than you and other things that you do better than he does?
Sean Engel: Oh, yes. We have a lot of similarities, but there are also some differences. He is more of a throw the ball deep and he'll run under it type and I am more of a physical possession guy. I can still get down the field and catch the jump ball. I don't have as much speed as he has, but I am trying to work on that. My brother takes pride in his routes and he has taught me a lot about the routes that he runs.
Q&A: WR Sean Engel: "My first choice right now would be the Minnesota Gophers"
By Chris Monter
http://www.gopherhole.com/news_article/show/403774?referrer_id=388419
Sean Engel, a 6-foot-4 ½, 165-pound rising junior receiver from Chaska (MN) High, is the younger brother of recent Gopher graduate and starting wideout Derrick. Engel helped lead the Hawks to an 11-1 mark last season.
Engel, who shined this past weekend at the Team USA camp, where he had 65-yard touchdown for the Blue team defeated the White squad, will attend the Gopher Junior Elite Camp this weekend and barbeque.
Gopher Hole recently caught up with Engel to learn the latest on his summer plans and recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What camps have you had a chance to go to so far?
Sean Engel: I went to the RAS camp in Indiana. I went to the NUC (National Underclassmen Camp Five Star (in Springfield, Illinois). The Nike Training camp (Chicago) and I went to Sound Mind Sound Body camp in Detroit. I went to the Michigan State, North Dakota, South Dakota State and Wisconsin team camps.
Gopher Hole: You are planning on going down to Minnesota on the 20th, right?
Sean Engel: Yes, for the Junior Elite Camp
Gopher Hole: You have gotten an earlier start than other kids having gone to camp last summer before your sophomore season. Do you think that has helped you know what you are going to go through better than other kids who are going through their first or second camps?
Sean Engel: Yes. It definitely prepared me for the camps that I am going to this year. I feel a lot more confident than I did last year going into these camps against the top competition in the country.
Gopher Hole: What do you see as your strengths as a wide receiver?
Sean Engel: I have excellent ball skills. When the quarterback throws it, either I am going to get it or no one is going to get it. I am going to fight for the ball. I run pretty sharp routes. I work on routes a lot in my free time. My hand-eye coordination. I hate to drop balls and I rarely do.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on to continue to improve yourself as a wide receiver?
Sean Engel: Just strength. Upper body. Lower body. If you have strength, that helps with a lot of things, like speed. I am going to try to work on my speed with (trainer) Mark Ellis and my strength program. Try to get stronger and try to elevate my game.
Gopher Hole: What about your high school team? You obviously had a good season last year, making to the state semifinals. I know that you have a coaching change with your head coach, Lambert Brown, leaving to become the athletic director at Maple Grove, but what are the expectations for the Hawks this year?
Sean Engel: We were really close to getting to the state championship game last year and just came up short. This year, we are pretty hungry. We want to get back there. All of our captains and teammates are dedicated and focused on it. For spring, we got together before school and in summer camp, we are all motivated.
Gopher Hole: You lost by just one point (20-19) to Brainerd in the state semifinals. Does that give you even more of a hunger of having come so close to making it to the state championship game at the Metrodome?
Sean Engel: Like you said, we came so close. We are all close friends. Everyone on the football team is like a family. We all trust each other. We all help each other. When someone falls a little bit short, we'll pick them up and help them. We are in it to win it.
Gopher Hole: I know that you lost your standout running back Kolby Seiffert and top receiver Calvin Buesgens, but you return your starting quarterback Justin Arnold. Have you had a chance to work with him much this offseason?
Sean Engel: We have had the captain's practice and started to build some chemistry. He knows what routes I am running and he was at the North Dakota camp that I was at. We had been at different college camps, so we haven't worked out a lot, but we'll build our chemistry.
Gopher Hole: Your brother is also a wide receiver. How much have you gained from him in seeing what he has had to go through?
Sean Engel: Everyone knows the story about him starting out in Division II and moving up and that inspired me. Whenever I feel that I can't go anymore, I know that I can make it if I push myself through it. He had helped me with a lot of stuff, like all my routes. I feel that my routes would not be near as crisp if he hadn't helped with it. We worked together every once in awhile. He is a great brother. He has helped me a lot.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are only going into your junior season, but what schools are you hearing from the most?
Sean Engel: I am getting a lot of interest from South Dakota State, Northern Illinois. Eastern Michigan is pretty interested. Michigan State. A lot of their coaches liked me. Minnesota. I have built a good relationship with a lot of those coaches.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think your relationship with Minnesota since you have been down there a lot because of your brother? How much do you think that has helped because they knew who you were before they maybe even knew how good of a player you have become?
Sean Engel: I can always talk to them about football stuff. They are all good coaches, too. They had a pretty good season last year, so that was awesome.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to possibly have the chance to play at the University of Minnesota?
Sean Engel: It would be huge. That is the college team that I have grown up with. Every Christmas, I get a Gopher jersey and I am the excited kid ever. My first choice right now would be the Minnesota Gophers. I like the coaching staff. They are doing pretty good. They are on the way to building a dynasty and this upcoming 2016 Class has a lot of good ball players and I would like to be a part of it.
Gopher Hole: You are already a little bit taller than your brother. I know that it is still early since you are just going into your junior season and he just graduated, but how would you compare yourself to him? Do you see a lot of similarities in your style? Do you see some things that he does better than you and other things that you do better than he does?
Sean Engel: Oh, yes. We have a lot of similarities, but there are also some differences. He is more of a throw the ball deep and he'll run under it type and I am more of a physical possession guy. I can still get down the field and catch the jump ball. I don't have as much speed as he has, but I am trying to work on that. My brother takes pride in his routes and he has taught me a lot about the routes that he runs.
