‘The Breakfast club’ is a Film that everybody should see once in their lives. It was heralded as a film that defined an era and one that many could relate to in a multitude of ways. However, for Central Missouri, Tight End Seth Hebert, that phrase has a different meaning.
Hebert, who stands at 6’4, 245 lbs, is a player who does what few really can…quantify leadership. You can’t grade it on a scale of 1-10 and there are no real ‘traits’ a player can possess that define it. But a dedicated effort to make those around him better certainly paint the most accurate picture I’ve seen. Going into his Senior year, the Tight End knew that he had a label of responsibility placed on his shoulders…and he wasted no time in making it stick.
“A big thing our coaches instilled in us was breakfast. So I made something called ‘the breakfast club’.” Hebert explained. “I put us all in a group chat, we’d go 5 days a week, meet at 7AM and I’d shoot teammates a text if they weren’t there. We’d send our meal snaps to each other if we couldn’t make it. We don’t have training tables like they do in D1, so trying to make sure everyone is following their meal plans was a big thing for me.”
It’s as simple as that. There’s no noise, no distraction, just a pure love for Football and those around him. Even his Jersey number, #85, is meaningful. His first memory carrying a football was an 85-yard run, so the number followed suit. But it just so happened that his Father, who was a Tight End himself, wore that same number.
Interestingly though, Seth didn’t play a single snap at Tight End until he enrolled at Central Missouri. He was a Second Team All-State honoree at Fort Zumwalt West as a wide receiver, hauling in 49 passes for 782 yards and 10 touchdowns. His ability as a receiver was clear, but his future alumni saw the potential to add muscle mass to his frame and develop a Tight End…which was convenient, given it was Hebert’s favorite position to watch.
Naming players like Tony Gonzalez and Dick Butkus when asked about players he looked up to, Hebert emphasized the word ‘bruisers’ over and over, looking up to players who aren’t afraid to block and get down and dirty in the run game.
Hebert committed to Central Missouri purely for the level of competition. The MIAA is often overlooked due to reputation, but he turned down some appealing D1 offers in order to attend a college where he felt the level of play was high.
“I watched the games and looked past the title of D2.” Hebert said. “With players like John Brown, Delanie Walker, Matt Longacre, if you’re good at this level, you’re good at any level. I was gonna have the opportunity to play top-tier football and that’s what I wanted.”
In terms of career progression, Hebert truly climbed every rung on the ladder, redshirting his first season and spending his next primarily on special teams. This did nothing but light a fire in the Belly of the Beast who would later go on to average 16.9 yards per reception in 2017.
“When I graduated high school I was 185 lbs. Going into my freshman year I was 240 lbs.” Hebert said, looking back on his redshirt season. “I know what it’s like to grind and that was something I liked noticing from kids. Noticing who’s gonna work, telling them ‘you’re the same as me, you may not be starting this year, but we’re going to need your best when the time comes.”
His strength coach worked hard to push Hebert beyond his limits both mentally and physically in order to prepare him for his time in the Sun. From extra workouts, to some tough love, the expectation was to really embed that chip onto his shoulder, preparing him for the journey ahead…and it worked.
“I went into my first real season trying to prove I didn’t need to be redshirted. I took it, trusted the coaches vision because I had never played the position before.” Hebert’s pacing began to pick up as you could almost feel the energy feeding off of that chip on his shoulder that clearly still exists. “My blocking technique wasn’t as solid as the older guys, but it lit a fire under me and had me chomping at the bit going into the next season. I went to a D2 over D1 and now at a D2 they think I can’t play? You understand situationally later on but at the time it rubs you the wrong way, but a good way. “
Transitioning quickness to power was the name of the game and considering his unrelenting work ethic, it didn’t take long for Hebert to make an impact on special teams. Within five special teams appearances, he had factored into kickoffs, kick returns and punt coverage, where he blocked an effort during a win over Lindenwood. But not only that, he even went on to take long-snapping snaps…a man who truly wants to do it all and prove he belongs.
Just one year later, he ended the season third on the team when it came to receiving, with his 34 catches ranking second among MIAA Tight Ends.
“My first game I had two catches of over 30 yards.” Hebert recalls. “It reassured me that this is the same game I’ve been playing my whole life. It helped me settle that I can 100% play at this level. It was just as it’s always been, it’s not a mythical beast. I am ready for this. In 2015 it built up so much that the chip gets to a point where it’s like if they let me on this field, I’m gonna explode. I want them to think ‘why aren’t we playing Seth more?’
Well, five games of 50 or more receiving yards and a 72 yard game in the playoff fixture at Harding did just that. The chemistry between Hebert and his offensive coordinator, who stepped foot in the Central Missouri doors at the same time as he did, began to blossom and the trust levels rose as a result.
“He likes using the Tight End position as someone that moves the ball downfield and we built that trust and cohesion.” He told me. “From there, I’d be able to directly feedback to him what I was seeing on the field and we could have two minds on the field to break down a situation. If the Safeties are playing split and the seam is wide open, he’d acknowledge that and see it as what’s best for the team, not me just wanting the ball. “
Over the next two seasons, Hebert would establish himself as a dominant run blocker and an appealing receiving option…but more importantly to him, a leader. His 573 yard season was impressive, as was his career-best 104 yard game against Washburn in 2017, but the accolades mean little in comparison to the impact he had on those around him…especially in the season that followed, which would be his last.
“When you become a senior, you’re almost the odd man out, especially a redshirt senior.” Hebert said, looking back one last time. “Everyone looks at you as almost a GA, it’s your fifth year there. I felt like I needed to start that breakfast club. We would have crossfit after every morning run. We’d have our DL coach put us through another cardio workout and I’d give an open challenge to see if anyone could beat me because I wanted to see people push past their limits. I liked working with younger guys, lighting a fire under them and seeing them develop. It puts a lot of pressure on me cause I had to lead by example. I liked setting the standard, being the guy on the team who younger guys come to because of my experience.
The impact that being pushed past your limits on a daily basis, being surrounded by teammates who will keep you upright when you think you’ve got nothing left to give, speaks for itself.
“We’ve all grinded really hard to finish workouts we never thought we’d be able to.” He says proudly. “That’s where team chemistry develops. Then when you’re down 6 points with 2 minutes to go and you can light that fire with your teammates knowing we all have more, I would have my experience knowing how to fire those guys up and get them going because of what we did before. This isn’t the first time we’ve met controversy together and we’d have that experience together.”
Hebert ended his senior campaign with 287 receiving yards, averaging 11.48 per reception, scoring 3 touchdowns. But when I asked him about his views looking back on 2018, he surprised me. The response wasn’t about his own personal rollercoaster or his stats, it was about the team.
“I pushed myself further than I ever had. I’m not ecstatic.” Hebert asserted. “We had a losing record for the first time in years, we lost key players, lost three out of our four captains by the fourth game, but at the end of the day, when it comes to me being able to develop the team, I feel as if I did have a successful season. Normally stats don’t matter, but if I say that and we won games, I’d be fine. To say that I’m satisfied would be a little farfetched.”
And that’s just the kind of guy that Seth Hebert is. With teams like the Bengals, Chiefs and Cowboys all doing their due diligence on this small school sleeper, it’s hard not to imagine him creeping up draft boards in the coming weeks.
He may not blow you away statistically, but his willingness to play to the Whistle on every down, to lift those around him and go out of his way to make sure his teammates are challenging him in the same vein each and every day, is just inspiring. If you want to talk about culture first, Seth Hebert is a home-run…and he has the prototypical size needed for the NFL level.
Currently working with strength and conditioning coaches, along with trying to make sure he isn’t over-exerting himself in these next few months, explosiveness and strength are the areas he’s focusing on…as NFL teams begin to focus on him. Among scouting circles and NFL organizations, Hebert’s name isn’t unknown…and in a few months time, that could become a much wider circle as this selfless, hard-working Tight End strives to carve a role out in however best helps the team.
He WANTS to play on special teams, to hit, to block, to do the dirty work that enables the stars to shine. And in a world of star receiving tight ends, that in-line blocker is being craved more than ever.
