Johnny Hellzapoppin

Johnny Hellzapoppin

Hellzapoppin breaking up a pass
No. 21 – Yellowknife Wraiths
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(2014-04-03)April 3, 2014 (aged 47) Dublin, Ireland
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College:	Notre Dame
ISFL Draft:	2037 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10
DSFL Draft:	2036 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Myrtle Beach
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
S21 Ultimini Champion, S21 DSFL Pro Bowl. S22 NSFL Pro Bowl

Johnny Hellzapoppin (born April 3, 2014) is an American football safety who is currently unsigned by a professional team. He played college football for Notre Dame (ND) and has declared his intent to enter the professional ranks next season.

Early years

Hellzapoppin was born in Dublin, Ireland as the youngest of 4 sons of an Irish father and American mother. He Grew up playing a variety of sports including soccer, rugby, gaelic football and hurling. He was considered a promising prospect in both rugby and gaelic football. When Hellzapoppin was 14 the family moved to the USA and settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Marquette University High School. It was at this point, without options to continue the sports that he had enjoyed in Ireland, that he discovered football and threw himself into the sport playing as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Marquette University High School Hilltoppers. In his senior year he set school records for both interceptions and receptions. He also competed in track for the high school. He received offers from a number of colleges as both a receiver and defensive back, eventually deciding to attend his mother's alma mater Notre Dame.

College career

"Hellzapoppin attended Notre Dame playing for the Fighting Irish football team from 2031 to 2034. He became a starter in his Sophmore season and played in 26 games. He began his career playing as a cornerback but moved to safety after an injury during his breakout, Sophmore year.

His Freshman year he didn't see much action on the field except as a backup and on special teams. However he had one notable moment blocking a potential game winning key field against Michigan which gained him recognition.

He was named a starter at cornerback during his Sophmore year however after a promising start his season was cut short by an ACL tear in the fifth game of the year against Clemson.

His Junior year he made his return in the second game of the season, but in a new position at safety. This seemed to suit him and he went on to lead the team with four interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

Despite the option to enter the DSFL draft Hellzapoppin chose to stay on for his senior year. He went from strength to strength totalling six interceptions and 9 pass breakups. He was nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award."

Professional career

DSFL Career

Hellzapoppin was drafted in the first round of the 2036 draft by the Myrtle Bech, taken 7th overall. He was the first safety taken in the draft and the second defensive back.

He had a solid, if not remarkable first year in the league, doing what was asked of him admirably. However his statistics were not sufficiently good enough to put him in contention for any end of season individual prizes.

One of his defining moments of the season came in week 10 against the Minnesota Grey Ducks, the team that had defeated Myrtle Beach in the previous years ultimini. With Minnesota driving in the 4th Quarter to try salvage something from the game, veteran quarterback Jack Vega, threw in the direction of tight end Blake Gragg. Hellzapoppin undercut the route and returned the interception all the way to the endzone to secure the victory for Myrtle Beach.

Another crusial moment came in the final week of the season away at Tijuana, with Myrtle Beach needing a win to secure the number 1 seeding for the Season 21 playoffs ahead of the Kansas City Coyotes. In the second quarter with the scores tied at 10 each, Luchadores quarterback Jim Waters threw to Thomas Passman, but Hellzapoppin was in the area of the wayward pass and caught it in full stride, allowing him to return the ball 13 yards to the TIjuana 18 yard line. From there the Myrtle Beach offense pounded the ball in the endzone with Dax Frost and JB Apollo tag teaming. This helped lead Myrtle Beach to a 27-20 victory giving them the number 1 seed for the Season 21 playoffs and a crucial home field advantage throughout.

In the playoffs Hellzapoppin had good performance as part of an excellent defensive unit which held the Norfolk Seawolves' #1 scoring offense scoreless in a 18-0 victory in the Southern Conference Championship Game.

In the Ultimini Myrtle Beach held the #2 scoring offense, the Kansas City Coyotes, to 10 points in a convincing 27-10 victory.

Hellzapoppin was named to the S21 DSFL Pro Bowl as a Safety for the Southern Football Conference.

Season 22 Draft

NSFL S22 Scouting Combine Results

Player	Pos	Wonderlic	40‑yd dash	Bench	Vert jump	Broad	20‑ss	3‑cone
Johnny Hellzapoppin	DB	25	4.28	18	31.2	133.0	4.09	7.05

NSFL Career

Season 22

Hellzapoppin was a day one starter at Yellowknife as a rookie taking up his preferred role at free safety. He took the step up well, adapting seamlessly to the higher tier and joining with a mature experienced defensive unit surrounding the young safety with talent. In fact he put up better numbers in his first year in the NSFL than he did in his DSFL year; recording 64 tackles, 4 sacks and 3 interceptions, along with a further 5 pass breakups. Those stats also don't tell the full story since 2 of those interceptions were returned to the one yard line falling just short of a pick 6 on both occasions. Both times fellow rookie Acura Skyline was there to punch it in from 1 yard out to secure the touchdown.

His standout performance of the season came in week 10 versus the Sarasota Sailfish, when he recorded 7 tackles, 2 sacks, a pass breakup and an interception. This helped the Wraiths to a dominant 34 - 7 victory en route to securing a first round bye for the NSFC conference playoffs and the number 1 overall seeding in the NSFL.

In the playoffs the Wraiths met the Yeti in the NSFC conference final. While the Wraiths were a heavy favorite, the Yeti pulled off an upset in a very tight game to win by a single point 17-16. Hellzapoppin played well in the game getting a sack along with 7 tackles but it wasn't enough to stop the Yeti, who went on from that success to win in the Ultimus over the Orange County Otters.

Hellzapoppin was named to the Pro Bowl representing the NSFC as a safety.

Professional career statistics

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks	Interceptions		Other
Season	Team	Games	Reg	TFL	Total	Sack	Int	IntTD	DefTD	FFum	FRec	PD	Safety
2036 (S21)	Buccaneers	14	63	1	64	5	2	1	1	0	0	2	0
2037 (S22)	Wraiths	13	64	0	64	4	3	0	0	0	0	5	0