Corey Hoelck chasing pro football dream

Corey Hoelck is living the dream. In his own words, he gets to be a kid for a little bit longer. 
The Giltner and UNK graduate has spent the past few months in the mountains, lifting weights every day and training for a spot in the National Football League. 
“A lot of people I went to school with are starting their careers and I’m still playing a kid’s game,” Corey said. “I’m 24 years old and I get to lift weights all day. It’s a dream.”
Yes, that’s right. There’s a strong possibility that Hamilton County could have two football players selected in the NFL draft next month. 
I haven’t gotten my brain around that, either. All I know is, Corey and Austin Allen have both earned and deserve the opportunity. 
Corey has been in Denver since the first of the year training with Landow Performance to prepare for a potential NFL landing spot. 
That’s where he’s been working on everything he needs for the draft, like a 40-yard dash time and the other measurements. 
His training regimen includes two workouts a day -- a speed workout in the morning with weight lifting in the afternoon, the fun part of Corey’s day.
That’s four days of the week while the other two days include recovery workouts. 
Sounds like a bit much, but I’m anything but NFL ready. 
Corey got hooked up with Landow in Colorado through his agent and a bit of a small-town situation. 
“One of the lead trainers here went to UNK and played football,” Corey said. “I thought this was the best fit for me.”
Corey mentioned that upon arrival in January, he and the other athletes tested out their numbers as a benchmark. He reported that his have improved considerably in just the 10-week span. 
“I’ve definitely improved in everything. A lot of my numbers at the pro day will turn a lot of heads. I’m excited for it,” Corey said. “With the combine last week, it’s easy to match my numbers up to those guys and see where I’m at. I’m confident going in to those events that I can deliver.”
That right there turned my head in our phone conversation. 
While he didn’t want to give me any specifics, even though I pestered him for it, Corey mentioned his excitement to show off for scouts at his upcoming pro day. 
Corey will compete as an individual alongside others at the Nebraska Pro Day in Lincoln March 22. He will go through his testing, alongside Oz. 
Even though he feels like the unknown, Corey feels he can compete with the best on the board. 
“It’s huge for me to know that I can compete athletically and physically in any category,” Corey mentioned. “I can do anything those guys can do.”
Being the unknown guy certainly has its challenges. While he’s certainly had interest and scouts know who he is, Corey has been working hard to put and keep his name out there. 
While he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on it, the pro day for him is arguably more important than anyone else. 
“It all comes down to that day,” he said. “If I can go out and have some good numbers, that will get people talking. The film is out there and the biggest question for me is lack of competition. That’s a question I’m ready to answer and deal with. I’m right there with everyone else.”
Corey isn’t treating the pro day any different than he would than any football game he’s played since wearing a Giltner uniform. He’s just trying to have fun with it while keeping the perspective -- he’s living out the dream. 
“How many guys actually get to take this next step?” he asked. “I am part of a select few that gets to compete in front of NFL teams. It’s a blessing and privilege to make it this far and have my name out there. It’s exciting.”
Corey didn’t really have any thoughts about playing at the next level until after the 2019 season.
The Lopers were coming off a 7-5 season as UNK really started to pick up some momentum. 
Corey was a Second-team All-MIAA lineman as well as a team captain, something he maintained through his final senior season. 
Through the grapevine, Corey found out that there was interest from some NFL teams that were starting to pay attention. 
“It’s been in the back of my mind since then,” he said. “Teams continued to show interest and were impressed with what I’ve done.”
However, after the 2020 season was cut drastically short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Corey and his senior teammates had a choice -- either leave the football field for good or come back one more year. 
They chose to come back and finish what they started. 
“All of us bought in and came back. We had this goal in mind,” Corey said. “We knew we could go out and do it and it felt good to make it happen. Setting that mark for Loper football meant the world to me.”
Corey’s freshman season, UNK was a 1-10 football team with no momentum whatsoever. 
Even on his signing day at Giltner, Corey mentioned wanting to be that group of players that changed the narrative of Loper football. 
They did that and more. 
“We were primarily Nebraska kids and talked about turning the program around,” Corey said. “For the guys that stuck it out, it goes to show we believed in us and the program. A lot of people were wrong about us.”
The Lopers finished 2021 with a 10-3 record and one win in the NCAA D-II playoffs. 
The 2021 season meant the world to Corey and his teammates, coming from a one-win team to participating in and winning a playoff game. 
That playoff run was tough on Hoelck, who suffered an injury in the second to last game of the regular season. 
After sitting out his senior day, there was nothing that would keep Corey off the field for those two playoff games. 
“Those last two games were rough. I had about a month of rehab before starting my training and I feel great now,” Corey explained. “I had the option not to play in those games but that never crossed my mind. I have no regrets playing those games.”
He’s all healed up now, though, feeling 100 percent as he continues to chase his football dream.
The buzz can certainly be felt within the small community just south of I-80. One of Giltner’s other sons, Drew Ott, gave the NFL a go not long before Corey, but injuries kept him short of that goal. 
Corey can feel the support every time he comes back home, using the familiar upper-deck weight room any chance he can. 
“Giltner is a small community but everyone is so supportive,” Corey said. “This is a big deal and it’s crazy, going from 8-man to the NFL.
“I wouldn’t be here without the people in my corner,” he finished. “Everyone is supportive of me. This is a longshot for anyone, it’s the NFL. But to have the support of everyone in my life is great. I get to keep being a kid a bit longer.”
There’s no rush to grow up, Corey. 
RICHARD RHODEN can be reached at sports@hamilton.net.