Interview: Washington State’s Alex Hoffman-Ellis

2) How is Washington State shaping up for next season? What your expectations for the team?

This coming season, we expect from ourselves nothing less than a bowl game. A bowl game victory really.  We’ve got some solid leadership and some really good developments on the field as well as in the weightroom and conditioning-wise.  Guys are starting to develop more of a chemistry, as we’ve been getting together more frequently to sort of build up that camaraderie amongst ourselves.  I expect this to carry over on the field in terms of us trusting each and every person on this team to get their individual jobs done so that we can accomplish our goals and get W’s as a team.

3) What will your role be?

4) What is the highlight of your career?

I would have to say the highlight of my career was getting my first interception ever against SMU in 2009.  I took it back 54 yards for a score, and it was also my first touchdown ever so it was a very surreal moment standing in that endzone with the ball in my hands and Martin Stadium going nuts.

5) Who is the best player you played against and what was going through your head when you saw him play?

I’d have to say the best player I played against was my redshirt year in ‘08 when we played against USC and their linebacking corps of Mauluga, Maiava, Cushing and Matthews.  I just remember watching those 4 play the LB position that game (and that entire season, really) how it was meant to be played, straight downhill with an attitude and a purpose. 

6) What is your Jewish life like? Did you grow up with a strong Jewish identity?

I never really felt that much of a connection to Judaism growing up.  Having a Bar Mitzvah and playing in the Maccabi Games were the most Jewish things I ever did, but I never have been very spiritual.  I attended Sunday school and Hebrew school up until 8th grade, but to me it was more of a place I was being forced to go to.  Being Jewish was more of something I identified with once I got up to Washington.  Everybody up here is so religious and everything is prayer this, Jesus that.  The team actually says a prayer in Jesus name before and after games, so I feel almost pushed towards my Jewish identity more than as a voluntary thing.  Although I am proud of my heritage, I don’t have as big of a connection to it as I might like.

7) Did you get a chance to play against Taylor Mays? What was that like?

Yes I played against him.  I don’t really remember much of him as an opponent, just that there was a lot of hype around his physical attributes and him falling to the 2nd round in his draft class.  Other than that, I don’t remember much.

8) What are you goals when you graduate?

When I graduate, I want to keep training and hopefully (knock on wood) keep playing ball.  Outside of sports, I’m thinking of writing.  I write some poetry and short fiction every now and then, though I haven’t made a move to get any of my work published.  I guess I’m kind of going with the “I’ll just cross that bridge when I get to it” attitude.

9) If you could play for one pro team and/or coach who would it be?

That’s a tough question, so I’m just going to go with my favorite team, the Green Bay Packers.  Coach McCarthy seems like a very levelheaded, smart coach, Coach Capers has that defense really coming together, and seeing Coach Greene coach up the linebackers just gets me fired up.

Not Packers fans at TGR, but big Hoffman-Ellis fans.

And Let Us Say…Amen.

– Jeremy Fine