Mario Hoefer to continue football career at University of Northwestern-St. Paul

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — During the recent NFL Draft, those fortunate enough to get called to the podium expressed mucho thanks toward their parents, their coaches, their friends, and their supporters who always believed in them.

But more than several harbored a special place in their hearts for the naysayers they encountered during their journeys … the ones who didn’t believe in them, the ones who thought their grand expectations were merely pipe dreams.

If Charles City senior Mario Hoefer ever finds himself staring into a camera addressing a mass audience — something he has already done while accepting a Stan Musial Award for an act of sportsmanship while helping a distressed opponent during a football game — he won’t have to shout out to the naysayers.

He’s already done that before the fact.

During Charles City Boys Track and Field “Senior Night”, Hoefer boldly wrote out his goals to play professional football at the highest level possible to be read out over the public address system.

“You just watch me” was his special message at the end for any doubters in the audience.

Recently, Hoefer took the first step of the next phase of his football career when he signed his letter-of-intent to play for the University of Northwest-St. Paul.

“I’ve been going up there to watch games since I was in seventh grade,” said Hoefer, whose brother BJ Hoefer was a star running back for the Eagles.

“I know the place … I know the team. And since I’m the only wide receiver they recruited in this class, I think I could start as a freshman, though I know I’ll have to compete hard for it.”

Hoefer plans to major in sports medicine … and he’s very familiar with the trade as he has had to deal with injuries throughout his athletic career.

“But it’s mostly from basketball,” Hoefer said. “For some reason, I don’t get injured as much in football.”

The Eagles play in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference and are an NCAA Division III program. Though there are currently six players in the NFL who played at the DIII level, Hoefer knows that getting far may likely require way station stops in other leagues like Arena Football and the USFL.

“I’m never going to give up,” said Hoefer, who may not have the size of a pro-bound player, but he is surely big on athleticism.

Some of the most spectacular plays during the past several Comet football seasons have involved Hoefer, who has a Lynn Swann-in-air-awareness to concentrate on catching the ball while sustaining contact with defenders.

This past fall Hoefer was named to the All-Class 3A-District 3 First Team after leading the Comets in receiving yards and punt and kickoff return yardage.

He was awarded the team’s Most Valuable Receiver and Most Valuable Special Team Player.