Hunter Luepke, FB (NDSU)
A true blue chip fullback
If you are familiar with me or my content, chances are that you have heard me express my admiration for Hunter Luepke in some form over the past year. Luepke stands out as a rare example of a player I actively followed throughout the college football season, having been impressed by his skills early on in the year. I have even gone as far as to dub him "the next Kyle Juszczyk" on several occasions, although I am now uncertain if the comparison holds up as well as I initially thought (which is a good thing, more on that later). However, I remain convinced that if all goes well, Luepke has the potential to achieve legendary status, just like Juszczyk. Without further ado, I am excited to finally share my thoughts on Hunter Luepke, the nation's top fullback.
COLLEGE CAREER OVERVIEW
Hunter Luepke, a multi-sport athlete in high school, secured a state championship as a wrestler before enrolling at North Dakota State University. As a freshman in 2019, he played in 14 games for the Bison, rushing for 40 yards on 5 carries, boasting an impressive 8.0 yards per carry with one TD. Additionally, he caught 11 passes for 96 yards.
In 2020, during his sophomore year, Luepke played in six games and rushed for 464 yards on 85 carries, resulting in a remarkable 5.5 yards per carry, with six TDs and no fumbles. He also caught four passes for 37 yards. He would end the season by being recognized as a member of the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) first team.
During his junior year in 2021, Luepke played in 13 games for the Bison, accumulating 543 yards on 87 attempts, averaging an excellent 6.2 yards per carry, with eight TDs and an additional nine receptions for 165 yards. This performance would lead to Luepke repeating as a first-team All-MVFC selection.
As a senior in 2022, he played in 10 games, rushing for 628 yards on 97 carries, with an impressive average of 6.5 yards per carry, with nine TDs and one fumble. In addition, he caught 14 passes for 196 yards.
STRENGTHS
Hunter Luepke is a great athlete relative to his position, possessing fantastic burst, above-average speed, and the ability to beat linebackers to the edge if needed. He won’t be confused for a more traditional halfback, but he certainly has the athleticism to pick up large chunks of yardage by outrunning linebackers once he hits the second level. He is also able to use his athleticism to make defenders miss in open space from time to time, both after the catch and as a rusher. This athletic profile contributes to Luepke’s incredible versatility, as he is able to line up at a multitude of spots on offense including FB, HB, H-Back, TE, and even slot WR or as a QB in the wildcat.
Luepke's prowess as a pass catcher is truly remarkable, boasting skills that are rarely seen in fullbacks. A notable instance of this was during a game against Arizona where Luepke made an incredible play on a wheel route, catching a deep pass with his hands while maintaining his balance on the sideline and then managing to fall into the endzone. This play was reminiscent of a Kyle Juszczyk reception in the 2022 regular season against the Denver Broncos, where he made a similar catch but without the touchdown. Luepke's exceptional ability to make difficult catches is due to his excellent balance, soft hands, flexibility, and ability to track the football through the air. He often wins in the passing game through power run play-action, causing defenders to focus on the run before Luepke surges past them into open space, resulting in significant separation and chunk gains.
As a ball carrier, Luepke exhibits high-level ability for a fullback. In fact, it was not uncommon to see Luepke take the bulk of the carries for NDSU while lining up as the tailback. While I don’t see Luepke coming out as a tailback very often in the NFL, he will be an excellent contributor on the goal line and on designed fullback runs thanks to his physical nature and athleticism, along with a handful of other stand-out traits. For starters, Luepke has the ability to locate openings on the offensive line and burst through them incredibly well. If a lane doesn’t open, Luepke isn’t afraid to duck his shoulder and run through anyone in his way (in some instances, that included his own linemen). Luepke’s power profile pairs well with his contact balance and leg drive, making him damn near impossible to tackle. Additionally, Luepke possesses really great footwork for a fullback that allows him to execute moves like jump cuts quite effectively.
Although Luepke's flashy plays in his final year at NDSU have received significant attention, his exceptional blocking skills have gone unnoticed and, in my opinion, have become underrated. His physical toughness and grit shine through in his hard-nosed and disciplined blocking style, which enables him to pick off and seal gaps for his ball carriers from backfield alignments and as a wing. Luepke's wrestling background is evident in his form, as he possesses an excellent understanding of leverage and frequently finds himself lower than defenders. When he engages a defender, he keeps his feet churning and twists them like he’s trying to pin them down on a wrestling mat, rather than simply pushing them out of the play. This technique has proven highly effective, making it challenging for opponents to disengage and making him a valuable asset to his team's offensive efforts. Luepke's combination of power, technique, and persistence make him a highly formidable blocker who can wear down defenders throughout a game, as he is the type of guy who will give his all on every play without slowing down. In other words, he’s the last guy you’d want to make contact with 25-30 times a game, as he’s going to hit you just as hard on the thirtieth play as he did on the first play.
WEAKNESSES
Luepke’s game is almost flawless, as any weaknesses that may be pointed out are often misconceptions or misinterpretations. While scouting reports list his weaknesses as having “reduced positional value league-wide” or that he “projects as a TE/H-Back/FB hybrid which many teams do not use in this era of football”, these factors do not reflect on Luepke's abilities as a fullback, which are undeniable. In reality, his only slight “weaknesses” are minor technical aspects of his game that merely require polish, such as his ability to follow blocks and his technique as a blocker, which are expected to improve with more experience at the next level.
If we were to nitpick further, one could argue that Luepke is not as explosive of an athlete as some other skill-position players. However, as a fullback, is not expected to possess the athletic profile of his fellow skill-position players. Rather, he excels in his position as a powerful blocker and pass catcher, where his strength and finesse complement each other perfectly. Ultimately, any criticisms of Luepke’s abilities are insignificant, as his grit and physical toughness make him a formidable force on the field.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hunter Luepke once said “I like to hit people”, and I think that might be the most fullback thing I have ever heard. While he isn’t quite Kyle Juszczyk Jr., there is plenty to love about this guy and what he brings to the table. Rather than being a clone of a pre-existing legend, I would say Luepke is the next logical step in fullback evolution. In fact, it’s clear to me that Luepke is more of a freaky combination of multiple fullbacks. Luepke possesses the pass-catching ability of Kyle Juszczyk, the toughness and grit of Mike Alstott, the rushing prowess of Andy Janovich, the athleticism of Khari Blasingame mixed with CJ Ham, the hard-nosed blocking of Alec Ingold, and the overall fullback aura of the great John Riggins. To put it simply, Hunter Luepke is the fullbackiest fullback I have seen in at least ten years. Luepke will be able to contribute as a weapon in the passing game, a goal line/short yardage threat, and as a demon on special teams for years to come at the next level. This guy is a legitimate blue chip prospect if I’ve ever seen one, and I’m going to go as far as to say that Hunter Luepke has locked down the top spot on my big board. Positional value be damned, this guy is the most NFL-ready prospect in this year’s draft class, and I cannot wait to see him ball out on opening weekend.
Grade/Position Rank: Top Prospect in This Year’s Class, FB1
Comparison: Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender