Get Ready for the NFL with Isaac Erbes

As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, Isaac Erbes, a former University of South Dakota lineman, prepares for the pros. Erbes shares exclusive insight into what he is up to as he trains back at his alma mater, the University of South Dakota.

Choosing where to train for the draft is an important decision.

“I am currently training with Coach Clete. He has been a great mentor of mine and leader over the past six years,” shared Erbes. “One of the reasons why I chose to train up at school is that he has proven track records with training guys for the NFL, and it’s also a financially smart decision. It is free to train with him if you are one of his athletes, and he is great at what he does.”

Erbes describes his day-to-day process and current training schedule.

“When working out with Coach Clete, he asks us to help him out in the weight room so we get up around 4:40 a.m., and the college lifting guys get in there around 5:30 a.m., and we help work out those guys till about 8:00 a.m.,” shared Erbes. “I train from about 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and then I get lunch and rest. I head into treatment around 3:30 p.m., and a second group will come in and work at 4:30 p.m., and then from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., we have the turf where we do our field work and my football instructional work.”

Additionally, Erbes has been honing in on specific skills during training that are ultimately helping him become a better player every day. He described what each skill was that he has focused on thus far.

“My foot movement and the field aspect of the drills are important, and working on getting that polished up before pro day in late March, that’s something I’ve been focusing on,” Erbes continued. “Being explosive coming out of a stance is another main area of work. One of the things that I like to do is watch old combines or watch old offensive lineman workouts.”

Of course, there is always a challenge that players have to face.

“The technique of learning how to run fast because it can be a hard thing to get down and getting the right number of steps in.”

Erbes also had another obstacle.

“I had to heal from a slight shoulder injury so there was a little delay on the bench training, but other than that, it has been smooth sailing,” shared Erbes. “Also getting the snow off the outdoor practice field can be a challenge.”

Training in different weather conditions can also be a huge factor in the training experience, Erbes explains how this has been for him.

“We have trained inside the dome, which is a covered surface with no snow,” noted Erbes. “But, we like to switch it up, get on different surfaces to help our body recover, and we go to our outdoor practice field, and we have gotten over a couple of feet of snow this year and it’s melted down to about ten inches. We scooped off just enough snow to run 40s outside which is kind of fun. It provides a change of atmosphere.”

After a long day of work, recovery is essential in a proper training regimen. This is how Erbes approaches his recovery.

“Here at USD, there is a great training staff with a lot of tools that we can use if needed,” noted Erbes. “One of my favorite forms of recovery is getting in the cold tubs and getting in the booths to get my legs elevated and get the acid out of my legs. There is a lot of stretching. I like to work on my hip mobility, that’s a huge thing for a lineman.”

On his off days, Erbes shares what his Sundays look like.

“That day is a day for us to sleep in and get caught up on all rest,” Erbes continued. “I usually go out for a walk to get the body moving and my blood flowing and then end my day with some stretching.”

Following this, nutrition is essential during training. To maintain a healthy and balanced diet, Erbes makes sure to eat enough protein while getting in healthy carbs and fats.

“I like to start my day with four hard-boiled eggs, for lunch I eat steak or chicken with broccoli, and for dinner, I usually do steak or chicken with broccoli and throw in a little bit of rice before bed.”

Lastly, having support during this time can really make the experience worthwhile.

“One of my favorite experiences training so far has been training with one of my best friends,” stated Erbes. “He pushes me hard which helps and I push him back. I think training together allows us to challenge each other and being with him is one of my favorite aspects of training.”