Player Spotlight: Hunter Schlosser (Highlands)

Today's profile is on 2 yr starting offensive lineman at Highlands High School, Hunter Schlosser. He comes from the quintessential Fort Thomas football family having a father who was a former All State Player at Highlands in the mid 70's and a brother, Ben Schlosser, who earned a couple of All State teams. The Family history doesn’t stop there though as his mother is a Fennell and there is plenty of Highlands Football history there as well. Hunter's cousin Clemmie Fennell played on the 98', 99' and 2000 Championship teams; another cousin Danny Fennell was on the 95' team that reached the state finals and lost to Bowling Green. Uncle Clem Fennell (Clemmie's father) was a member of the 68' state championship team. Another Uncle, Kent Fennell (Danny's father) was on the 68' and 70' Championship teams. Grandfather Clem Fennell Sr was on the 1943 mythical State Championship team. I can only imagine what the topic of discussions are at the family gatherings.

This season, Hunter Schlosser, a Senior, will help anchor a very strong offensive line along with other classmates Tyler Grubbs (Div 1 Commit to Miami of OH), Tyler Combs (2nd yr starter) Brandon Roller (3 yr starter at TE) and Kyle Welz (2nd yr starter and bruising TE going 6'6 250lbs). Schlosser was a 2nd Team NKFCA All Star last season and is striving to cap his Senior campaign off with his 3rd State Championship ring as well as earning a spot on the All State Team. We recently had the chance to catch up with Hunter and here is what he had to say:

Last season was very special winning your 2nd state championship in a row but with the group you have returning do you think this year's team has the potential to be better?

I think that we definitly have the potential to be better than last year's team and maybe one of the best Highlands teams ever.

What personal goals do you have for this season outside of winning a 3rd straight state championship?

Outside of winning a 3rd State Championship I think it would be pretty cool to make it on the all-state team.

You come from a family that has a lot of tradition with Highlands football, tell us about that and how that has influenced you?

The tradition is always there and it has influenced me to be disciplined and determined and how to handle adversity. I remember watching my older brother walk off the field in 2006 after they lost to Cov Cath and remember telling myself that I would do whatever it took to never have this happen again. So yeah tradition has played a major role in the type of player I am today.

Who are some of the guys you hang out with both on and off the field and what are some of the things you like to do outside of football?

I hang out with Brandon Roller, Austin Collinsworth, Will Bardo, Nick Buten, Tyler Fennell, David Hogue, and Colin Rosenhagen. We usually go golfing and for those of us who aren't the best at golf we go fishing. We also like to just hang out at each others houses.

This might be one of the most talented senior classes I have seen come out of Highlands in a long time, what has it been like playing football with so many high caliber players and tell us what we can expect from the guy you will be protecting this year in Will Bardo?

Its great having such high caliber players on the team this year because you know that if you just make your block they are going to take it the distance. All of our backs and recievers have the potential to take it to the house on every play. Its great blocking for Will Bardo because you know that your blocking for a great passing quarterback but at the same time if he needs to run he has the speed to burn just about everyone on the field. I believe Bardo will prove to be one of the best quarterbacks in the state of Kentucky this year.

The offensive line is a position that doesn’t get a lot of glory but has to execute in order for your offense to perform. Highlands has always had quick, skilled lineman who are very strong and have great technique. What can you attribute this to?

I can attribute the offensive line being the way we are to the strenuous workouts that start the first day back from Christmas Break. We do many agility drills and are pushed to strive for perfection. I will admit that at times during the offseason it was hard to see sometimes how it would pay off but now that we are in the summer and getting ready to enter the regular season it has become very clear.

We wish Hunter the best this season as the Birds will surely be battle tested in their mid-season clash with National and Local Powerhouse Cincinnati St. Xavier.

Video of Hunter Schlosser in action.