Blue Earth Area High School football standout Carter Hanson had an unusual sneak peak at what his life will be like this fall.

Hanson, a 2013 BEAHS graduate, was a participant in the Minnesota State High School All-Star Football game on Saturday, June 29.

The Buccaneer middle linebacker helped lead his South All-Star team to a 24-14 win in the game held at Husky Stadium on the St. Cloud State University campus.

“They had me play outside linebacker,” Hanson says. “It took a little adjustment for me to play that position. I played middle all through my high school career. But, I will play outside in college.”

He adjusted quite well, accounting for numerous tackles and deflecting a pass.

There were six linebackers on the South Team and three would be in for 8 to 10 plays or two series of downs on defense, then the other three would come in for 8 to 10 plays. Hanson was one of the three starters.

He also played a lot on special teams, both on kickoffs and for kickoff returns.

Hanson’s biggest play came on kickoff coverage.

“One of my teammates knocked the ball loose from the kickoff return guy and I was able to recover it. It came right in my direction,” Hanson says.

But besides having a pretty good game, Hanson also enjoyed the practices.

“We were there for a full week before the game, doing two-a-day practices,” he says. “They were pretty easy, no hard hitting and no conditioning. We just ironed out our positions and the plays we would run.”

But, it was where the practices were held that had the most impact on Hanson.

St. John’s University at Collegeville. That just happens to be where the former Buccaneer football star will be playing his college ball.

“It was so great to be there for a week, get a feel for the campus, the dorms, the football field,” he says. “I had a rude awakening as far as how small the dorm rooms were. But, the cafeteria food was pretty good.”

Hanson was not the only member of the All-Star teams who will be a Johnnie this fall. There were six on the South team and four on the North 10 total.

In fact, two of Hanson’s other linebackers on the South team will be his fellow teammates on the Johnnies this fall.

“It was fun to meet these guys, and the other players on the South team,” he says. “We bonded pretty well and meshed together as a team.”

Hanson says he also spent a lot of time with two other area football players who were in the All-Star game, Bryce Holm from Fairmont and Austin Krumwiede from Martin County West.

“It was fun to talk to them, and get to know them,” he says. “You know, we are from the same area, had a lot in common.”

For instance, they all like football and all are good at it, that’s why they were on the All-Star team.

“It was definitely an honor to be selected to play in the game,” Hanson says. “I was really surprised when I heard I had been chosen. I?was really happy to be there and play.”

Plus, it was an excellent introduction to what life is going to be like for the former BEAHS football player in another month.