By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HAYS – Ted Hessing hasn’t played a down in a real football game since 2019. The Fort Hays State right offensive guard suffered a knee injury in a scrimmage during the COVID season of 2020 and missed all of last season. Hessing is now healthy and ready to make a return to the Tigers starting lineup, however he says his return hasn’t always been easy.
“Every day coming back was like a struggle.” Hessing said. “Lunges, all of that rehab, over a year rehab it was just a mental battle.”
The senior from Stuart, Florida played two seasons at Arizona Western CC before transferring to FHSU and says he tried to make the best of not being able to play last season.
“I was definitely trying eleveate everyone’s game around me.” Hessing said. “Like the little things that coach (Jeff) Bryant can harp on every single time because there’s so many kids. Definitely want to harp on the little things and develop the next set of players that are going to be playing in games.”
The Tigers return three starters from last season’s offensive line in center Senituli Teuhema, left tackle Pat Kelly and right tackle Kristopher Stroughter. Kelly hopes his return can help the offensive line be one of the dominant forces on the team.
“The past couple of years we haven’t run the ball like wanted to, we were relying on throwing the ball more on third downs. This is the year that it’s third and three we want to run it down their throat and really prove a point and run out the clock instead of getting an incompletion and the clock stopping.” Hessing said.
One of the ways Hessing says the Tigers offensive line can get their swag back is through physical play.
“All about being physical is a mindset. You can’t step on the field without thinking of being physical first. If you’re not physical that’s when you get hurt and that’s when bad stuff happens, that’s when the defense is going to make plays on your o-line.”
Hessing and the rest of the Tigers looking to get back to their winning ways after finishing 5-6 season a year ago, their first losing season since 2012.
“Everybody has got to step up and do their job and not worry about the guy next to you.” Hessing said. “You got to trust the guy next to you and do your job, trust the play calls from the coaches and trust the coaching points during practice.” Hessing said.