Position: Running Back
School: Wartburg College
HT/WT: 5’9” 190lbs
X: @hunterclasen1
Instagram: clasen_21
1. Achievements:
a. 2023: Played in 14 games … had 277 carries for 1,654 yards and 24 TDs … caught 34 passes for 307 yards and 4 TDs … A-R-C Male Athlete of the Week (9/5) … A-R-C offensive player of the week (9/5, 10/2 & 10/30) … D3football.com Team of the Week (9/5 & 10/31) … Conference Offensive MVP … First-team All-Conference (offense) … D3football.com First-team All-Region …D3football.com First-team All-American … AP Second-team All-American
b. 2022: Played in 14 games … had 257 carries for 1,584 yards and 21 TDs … caught 24 passes for 223 yards and one TD … had nine kickoff returns for 201 yards … A-R-C Offensive Player of the Week (10/11) … Conference Offensive MVP … First-team All-Conference (offense) … D3football.com Second-team All-Region … AP First-team All-American … AFCA Second-team All-American … D3football.com Third-team All-American.
2. How’d you end up at your current school? What was the recruiting process like?
a. I ended up coming to Wartburg because my cousin had come here and told me about how great it was to get to know everyone and build relationships with not only my classmates, but my teachers and coaches as well. The recruiting process was simple for me. I came onto campus for a visit and instantly knew that Wartburg was the place for me.
3. What gives you an advantage over other athletes at your position?
a. I would say the advantage that I have over other athletes in my position would be that I don’t stop running my feet on contact. Some people might get hit and think that the play is over and should go down but not me. I try and fight for that extra yard every play no matter who is in front of me. Also, my mindset is set to win on every play. I may be 190 lbs but I run like I’m 225.
4. What does being a student of a game mean to you?
a. I would say being a student of a game means that no matter how much you think you know there will always be room for improvement. Also, to never be satisfied with just being good, always fight harder to be amazing.
5. How does being a Running Back reflect itself in your personal life?
a. I would say that being a running back helped me become more patient in life. Just because you can’t see the whole right now doesn’t mean one won’t open.
6. How would you describe your work ethic?
a. I would say that I’m relentless and I don’t stop until the job is done. I pay attention to detail, and I consider myself to be an “everyday” guy.
7. What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from the coaching staff?
a. That the little things count. In high school you could always get away with maybe being the biggest or fastest but in college everyone’s big and everyone’s fast so paying attention to detail and knowing when to cut is crustal to getting either a 4-yard gain or a TD.
8. What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?
a. I would say my biggest accomplishment would be that I became a two time All-American.
9. How did you hear about the National Scouting Combine?
a. Nic Bankston reached out to me on X and asked me if I would be interested in participating in the combine.
10. Why did you choose the National Scouting Combine?
a. I thought it would be a great way to help me show some next-level scouts what I have, and by going to the NSC, I can show them that.
11. What do you hope to show people at the combine?
a. I hope to show them that I have what it takes to get to the next level. I have speed, I have agility, I can make the right cuts, I just need a chance.
12. What was your Major?
a. My major was Business Administration with a concentration of marketing
13. If you could make a positive impact on all of society, what would it be and why?
a. I’ve done a little bit of construction during my summers while at school and I feel like what I could do to make a positive impact on all of society would be to help towns clean up and help repair their homes after a natural disaster.
14. What is something unique about you that people would find interesting?
a. That I am the baby of 8. I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters. I also have 4 step siblings as well.
15. If you had the opportunity to play another sport professionally, what sport would you choose?
a. I have never done it before, but I loved watching it while I was growing up and thought it would be cool to do it someday, but I would love to be a professional Bull Rider.
16. Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or “pay it forward” in your community?
a. I would say that I’m doing a little bit of mentoring. I’m currently trying to help some underclassmen with their off-season workouts by showing them how to properly do some of the things were working on.
