Worcester, MA --- Another football season has arrived for Casey Hippert, the star tight end for Worcester State University. That familiar blue and gold Lancers' game jersey will soon stretch over his shoulder pads.
"Number 86. I've stuck with that number since eighth grade," the former Northbridge High star said.
And Hippert, now a senior, has stuck some very impressive numbers in the Worcester State stat book in his career.
Catching 62 passes for 1,050 yards and seven touchdowns last season, the 6-foot-4, 240 pound Hippert led all NCAA Division III tight ends for yardage total. He also made the All-MASCAC First-team and was selected as an ECAC Division III North second-team all-star.
Entering his final season with the Lancers, Hippert has 109 catches for 1,829 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has been selected as a preseason Division III All-America First-teamer by the Beyond Sports Network.
"Casey is the best tight end we've ever had here, without a doubt," said Lancers veteran coach Brien Cullen, who begins his 32nd season. "With his athleticism, if he played for me 20 years ago, he would have been a wide receiver."
Cullen, who these days implements a modern, no-huddle, spread offense, is blessed to have someone like Hippert, with tight end size and toughness, but also the flat-out speed of a typical, smaller quick wideout.
"Casey is the perfect hybrid," Cullen said. "He really creates a lot of matchup problems for opposing defenses."
From his early days wearing 86 for the Northbridge Rams, playing for Ken LaChapelle in a similar pass-oriented offense, Hippert learned to love to catch, then run with the football.
"In high school, we would only have a run play if we had to," said Hippert, who is now the favorite target of Lancers quarterback Kevin Bumpus, a captain who is back for his senior year after injuries sidelined him for all but five games last year.
"Casey, with his size, is certainly easy to see out on the field," said Bumpus, who threw for 1,156 yards and 10 TDs in limited action in 2013.
"As an ex-basketball player, he knows how to use his body to get open, and he has great hands."
The flip side of Hippert's extraordinary pass-catching success has been more and more double coverage from across the line.
"Every time Casey's out there, it's never one-on-one," Cullen said. "Most times there are two guys on him, and we still get him the ball, so he makes the catch, holds on and then gets extra yards. One guy cannot bring him down."
About double coverage, Hippert said, "It's definitely frustrating, but I just have to fight through it and try to stay one step ahead of them.
"I try to read the defense and make sure they don't know what I'm doing," he added. "I have a lot of option routes. A lot of it is just reading the defenses and studying film. You have to work hard before the games on Saturday.
"It's timing and repetition in practice, getting the rhythm down."
Hippert's routes are typically 20 yards and less. It's often a quick grab, and that's when things get tougher for defensive backs.
"He's a big guy to tackle especially for some little defensive backs," Cullen said. "He stiff arms and then just runs people over. He creates problems for defenses because of his mobility and size."
Hippert began his college career, redshirting at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, before transferring to Worcester State as a sophomore.
"It was a good move, coming to Worcester State," said Hippert, a criminal justice major. "I've loved it here."
Even though his personal stats jump from the page, Hippert is all about team, especially focusing on the Friday night opener against Anna Maria on Sept. 5.
"We're hoping for a conference championship and then national playoffs," Hippert said. "That would be awesome."