Brad Hoffman looking to make big impact with Bulldogs

There’s a side of Brad Hoffman that’s looking for a collision; that’s the linebacker side of him.

The other side — the quarterback part — is learning to be more judicious. Slide once he’s run for the first down. Dart out of bounds to avoid 280-pound defensive ends. Keep in mind that discretion is the better part of valor.

“I might miss hitting a little bit,” the Wilson senior allowed the other day, noting his linebacker days are likely over. “I got a little action today (on a blocking drill), but they took me out. My QB coach doesn’t want me hitting anymore.”

The only thing Bulldogs head coach Doug Dahms wants the 6-1, 215-pound Hoffman hitting is his receivers.

Hoffman transferred to Wilson last spring, coming over from Berks Catholic, where he started at quarterback as a sophomore and junior (and also played linebacker).

He arrived in time to participate in spring and summer drills, and to make a move to the top of the QB depth chart. He has the starting job heading into Saturday’s 10 a.m. scrimmage against Coatesville at Gurski Stadium.

He won’t be used on defense by the Bulldogs, even though he’s big enough and strong enough to help on that side.

Wilson plays a demanding schedule, with rugged Central Dauphin and state-ranked Gov. Mifflin in the first eight days of the season. Dahms’ primary goal is to keep his No. 1 quarterback upright.

“You go through our schedule, you don’t make it the whole year without getting dinged,” he said. “(Brad) wants to be physical, but we don’t want our quarterbacks to be too physical. There’s a time to be macho — end of the game, on the 1-yard line, a needed first down — otherwise, let’s live to fight another game.”

Hoffman gets it. He knows he needs to stay on the field to achieve his goals, which are to take the Bulldogs back to the playoffs and to catch the eye of college coaches.

He has the chance to do that running Wilson’s Spread Option offense, which allows its quarterbacks to throw the ball downfield and show off their arm and decision-making in the passing game. That wasn’t the case at BC, where Hoffman averaged just eight passes a game in the run-oriented Wing-T offense.

“I have the physical capabilities,” Hoffman said. “I just haven’t been able to show it. Now, senior year, I’ve got everything, so it’s all up to me.”

The transition to a new offensive structure has been smoother than you might imagine. Hoffman played at Schuylkill Valley as a freshman and said there are a lot of similarities between the Spread Jeff Chillot ran with the Panthers and what the Bulldogs like to do.

“Coming here in the spring, it was like second nature for me,” he said.

Dahms is pleased with what he’s seen from Hoffman. The physical tools and leadership ability are there. He just needs to refine some things.

“We’ve got to get him away from always wanting to throw deep,” Dahms said. “When you’ve got a big, strong arm, you want to go deep all the time; (he needs to learn) to go through first, second and third reads.

“Coming from a team that hardly ever throws the ball, he’s got to get in touch with timing, windows and the read sequence. He’s progressing. We’ll see what happens when he’s got two or three linemen storming at him.”

Hoffman will have plenty of options at his disposal. Jadyn Jones figures to be one of the top ballcarriers in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, and Gavin Lenart will provide a physical presence when he’s in the backfield.

He’ll have good targets at wide receiver in Sean Dendall and TJ Flite, and an offensive wild card in speedy Cam Jones, who can line up anywhere and make plays.

“I think I have the best receiving corps in the county, maybe even the state,” Hoffman said.

His biggest hurdle, he said, was getting to know his new teammates, a task made more difficult because Wilson was in a virtual learning mode when he arrived.

“Being the new kid again, it is hard, having to learn names, and build relationships,” he said, “but I think I did a pretty good job with it.”

Hoffman is anxious to play on a bigger stage, against 6A competition, and show college coaches what he can do. He competed at several on-campus prospect camps this summer, including one at the University of Central Florida. He’s eagerly awaiting his first offer, and his first game with the Bulldogs.

“I’m so blessed to be able to wear this uniform,” he said. “I’m excited to be here. I love the community, I love the coaches and I love the players that I’m playing with. I’m excited to get it going this season. They take (football) really seriously here, and I like that.”