You’ve all been able to read about Fritz Rock, and his very unique upbringing in part one of this interview. Now we get to know Fritz Rock, the player. He is gaining more attention by the day, and has already caught Coach Tim Brewster’s eye. He has currently has offers from the University of Minnesota and Indiana University, but as anyone knows that has seen this Wayzata High School stand-out play, this is just the beginning. GopherHole.com had a chance to catch up with Rock on top choices, plans for visits, and his intense plan for the summer to ensure a strong senior season.


GH: What positions have you played in high school?
FR: Receiver and kick returner. Now I think during my senior year I’m going to play safety, receiver and return kicks again.

GH: What position do you prefer to play in college?
FR: It really doesn’t matter, I know they said that it would come down to either wide receiver, or safety, because of my size. It doesn’t matter, whatever gets me on the field.

GH: What are your top factors when choosing a school?
FR: Academics, a college-day atmosphere, and then football.

GH: As far as academics go, are you looking for a particular program, do you know what you want to study?
FR: Not really, I’m still undecided. I’ve been looking into business; I’ve been talking to my brothers about that.

GH: As far as a college atmosphere goes, have you been more impressed with the college towns like Iowa City or Madison, or do you prefer being in a city like Minneapolis?
FR: A little bit of both. I have been born and raised in Miami, I’ve always lived in a major city. One thing I know for sure is that I don’t want to be in a small, small town. The smallest I ever want to go is a city like Madison or Iowa City.



GH: Do you prefer staying in a larger city?
FR: Truthfully, I do.

GH: Which schools are showing the most interest in you?
FR: As of late, Minnesota, of course, Indiana, Purdue, Penn State, Michigan State and now Oklahoma and Louisville.

GH: Who do you currently have official offers from?
FR: Minnesota and Indiana.

GH: How do you view Moses Alipate’s commitment to Minnesota? Does that effect your decision at all?
FR: It does, because we’re both juniors. We talk a lot, when we’re together, or just on the phone. His Dad (Tuineau Alipate) knows my brother (Patrick Rock) and they talk. I’m really happy for him. He called me the day that he committed and his Dad talked to my brother. There is no one pressuring me, but they do think it would be cool if I were to commit to Minnesota to make this 2009 class even better. I’m considering it.

GH: So Moses hasn’t tried to recruit you?
FR: No, he’s given me a lot of hints, but he’s not trying to pressure me. Just a lot of hints.

GH: Like what?
FR: Like “when are you going to commit?” (laughing).

GH: What can people expect to see from you during your senior season?
FR: I’m running track again this year so I guess my personal goal that I have is that I want to get faster by doing that. I’m also going to be working out a lot. Not only in school, but with my brother, Patrick. Then, I’m going to go home this summer to Miami to work out with just about every top talent that Miami’s recently produced. I want to work out with those guys, and my goal is to come back my senior year, and have a Mike Floyd type of season. I’m not trying to compare myself to him, but I really want to be able to dominate my senior year, as a receiver or playing defense at safety. I want to go out and just play hard, and help my team win games. I want to finish up as part of the state championship team. We’ve got everything in place to do it.

GH: How fast do you run the 40 right now?
FR: 4.57

GH: You said you’d be working out with some of the top guys in Miami, can tell us who that would be?
FR: I’d rather not say, just a lot of people that our family knows that work out at the Miami facilities. All I can say is that, a lot of them are current Hurricane players, current NFL players from Miami that my brother knows. My brother Patrick knows anybody and everybody. That’s just how he is, he knows every facility, every NFL, he knows them from either playing against them or their families. I know he’s going to put me in a situation where I’m competing against the best of the best, and when I come back here to Minnesota, I hope for my game to be on another level.

GH: Have you seen the videos of the new Gopher stadium, and what were your first impressions?
FR: We got to see it for junior day, and it was pretty cool. I was like, that’s nice. Moses, Bryce and I all looked and each other and were like, “man, this is unreal.” It was tight.

GH: What about the new uniforms?
FR: I kind of forgot what they exactly looked like, but they were cool too. I think everything that day was really good.

GH: Besides Minnesota, what other Junior days have you attended?
FR: I got invited to Notre Dame, but I didn’t go. They wanted me to go, but it didn’t work out with my schedule. Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, I think I got about 30 different invitations for junior day. I decided to just wait until spring break and do the road trip so I can get to know the coaches one on one, and not be in a room of 40 or 50 other people.

GH: What part of your game sets you apart from other players?
FR: I’m not sure, I guess from what the Minnesota has said here, it’s my size. When I came in here as a 9th grader I was the same size. I went from baby fat to now, muscle. That’s what they all say (laughing). I’m 6’1, 200 pounds, and I’m still learning how to run and use my size when I’m on the field. I can catch and make plays if given the opportunity.

GH: What did you learn about yourself as a player at the US Army All-American Combine game?
FR: I actually was one of the few that were invited as a Sophomore the year before. That’s actually where I met Coach (Randy) Taylor. I guess they thought I was the only sophomore that stood out at the combine, and then when I came back this year, everyone kind of new me. Then I guess I did well, better than last year, so I guess that’s why I made the junior All-Combine team, that was cool.

GH: Are you going to any camps this spring or summer?
FR: I’m thinking about going to one Nike camp and one Scout camp. I want to go and play some receiver and play some defensive back as well. We’ll see if they let me do that.

GH: Who is the Coach that’s recruiting you the most from Minnesota?
FR: Coach Butler is our recruiter for our high school. But because we live so close to the University of Minnesota, I just go to see Coach Brewster and Coach McDonald. That’s the funny thing about it, some schools want me as a safety, without even seeing my play defense. Minnesota has already told me they want me as a wide receiver, so they want both me and Bryce (McNeal) as receivers.

GH: You’ve obviously met a lot of division one coaches, what do you think sets Coach Brewster apart from the rest of the coaches?
FR: His energy. He’s passionate. A lot of coaches are passionate, but with him…I can’t even explain it. He really has the passion, he loves Gopher Football, there’s nothing he won’t do to get the Gophers back on top. I really believe he’s going to do it.

GH: What Gopher players have you connected with?
FR: Former players, I know Thomas Tapeh, Marion Barber III, the Barber family, I know those guys. As far as current players, a lot of them, a lot of them either played with my brother Reggie, or played against him. They knew me just because of my brother. I do want them to know that I’m not just my last name, and I actually can play. When I go down there and see all of these players, they know me, and I’m getting to know a lot of them.

GH: What kind of advice had Reggie given you?
FR: Reggie tells me the recruiting process can be fun, but at the same time, it can be long, and just tiresome. He said if he could do it all over again, he ideally would of liked to make a decision before his senior year. So one of the things he talked to me about was making a decision before camp, because he wants me to be focus and not worry about calls, and coaches and more letters. I guess that’s why this spring break, me and my brother, and possibly Reggie, are going roadtrip and visit the schools.

GH: Where are you going to go?
FR: I am going to go to Minnesota first. After that, we’re going to drive to Indianapolis and we’re going to be there for a week, and we’re going to visit 7 or 8 schools. Michigan, Pennslvania, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky. Some of the schools said they’d offer me once I get there. I just want to see the coaching staff and take tours. My brother said we should be able to see a lot of spring practices and maybe a game. It’s the best time to do it, because it will be track season when I get back, so I wanted to get it done before I go to Miami.

GH: Do you think you’ll make your decision before you go home for summer?
FR: The way it looks right now, it’ll either be then, or right before camp, which would be August.

GH: You’ve had some really good players come out of Wayzata, do you ever talk to them about the recruiting process?
FR: Yes, they always come by to the weight room and to see us. They always come by and say hello, they always say to stay hungry, and stay focused, and do what you’ve gotta do.

GH: If you were given the opportunity to play for one of the Florida schools, would have extra motivation to return there? Is that something you’re looking at?
FR: I’d think about it. Miami is one of the schools that’s trying to recruit me, and one of the things they’re always asking is, “do you want to come back home?” I think about it a lot, and I talk to my brother about it. He says that home is where you make it, and if I stay in Minnesota I’ll always have him, and family and friends here. If I go back home, I have my parents and buddies there too. It’s really the best of both worlds. We’ll have to see when I go down there for part of the summer.

GH: If you had to say, right now, who your top three choices are, who would they be?
FR: Minnesota, Miami, and the third school would be Ohio State.


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