@justinhylkema on X The 2023 Early Signing Period is finally here! The Arizona Wildcats welcomed numerous new players to the team last week. One such player is 3-star, Bay Area offensive line Justin Hylkema. His signing day profile can...
@justinhylkema on X
The 2023 Early Signing Period is finally here! The Arizona Wildcats welcomed numerous new players to the team last week.
One such player is 3-star, Bay Area offensive line Justin Hylkema.
His signing day profile can be found here. Read on below to learn a little more about one of the new additions to the Wildcat Football program.
AZ Desert Swarm: What is your favorite hobby?
Justin Hylkema: “My favorite hobbies are spending time with my family and friends. I like coaching the Santa Clara Lions youth football team. It brings me joy coaching the youth because that’s where my career started and I love giving back to the community. I also enjoy going to the gym and hitting the field to better myself physically and mentally. Another thing I enjoy doing is going on hikes with my older brother Brenden. Lastly, I love going to the beach to relax, swim in the ocean, and throw a football, or a frisbee, around with my parents and brother.”
What is your favorite post-game meal?
“On game-days, in the morning, I make myself four scrambled eggs, toast, and a banana. For lunch, I have either Subway or Ike’s sandwiches.”
What is your go-to pre-game hype song?
“Right now, it’s Not a Drill by Veeze.”
What is the fondest memory you have of your high school career?
“My favorite high school memory was my sophomore season. We had a rough start that season but we ended up turning it around. We knew we were too good as a team to be losing those types of games. I could feel that we came closer as a team and it showed. We won out the rest of the season. We ended up going to the playoffs and winning our CCS and NorCal championship games. We went to State and had a great game. It came down to the last seconds but it didn’t go our way. Even though we lost, I still had a great time and a great experience with my team.”
What is your greatest strength on the field and what is the part of your game you’d like to work on?
“My greatest strength on the field is definitely being aggressive, understanding the defensive fronts, and using my speed and strength to dominate the defense. I lover learning new plays and techniques. So knowing I will have the opportunity to be coached by Brennan Carroll, and the U of A staff, is such an amazing feeling. I would like to continue improving my speed, strength, and football knowledge to help the U of A dominate the league and win the National Championship!”
Which 2024 class member are you closest with?
“I’ve talked to a lot of the 2024 commits and they are all really cool. I can’t wait to build a deeper relationship with them this upcoming year.”
What are your thoughts on Arizona’s 2023 season?
“The 2023 season has been great. My family and I got to watch every game together. We came out to the Homecoming game against UCLA. The energy level during that game definitely sold me and made me even more excited about my commitment. After that game, my family and I ran onto the field and got to celebrate wit the fans (the ZonaZoo). That feeling and excitement that we had was something different. I was able to feel the love of the community, the fans, and the team. I look forward to being a part of the family and the great town of Tucson.”
What are you looking forward to the most about being an Arizona Wildcat?
“When I was on my Official Visit, Tucson felt like home. I loved how the campus was laid out. It seemed easy to get around. I loved the architecture of the buildings. I had the opportunity to visit the medical facilities. My mind was blown on how advanced the technology was. I’m looking forward to just being a part of the Wildcat Family overall. I’m very excited to see what the future has for me.”