In many ways, Hunter Luepke has always been a "star" - and now, he's playing professional football with one on his helmet.
Luepke, the 23-year-old fullback who earned $200,000 in guarantees from the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, has led a life much different than most incoming rookies.
Already married to longtime partner Sadie, Luepke hails from Spencer, Wisconsin, right in the middle of the Badger State, and cemented a long-lasting legacy at Spencer High School.
On the football field, Luepke was a four-year starter and two-time captain, playing running back, linebacker and defensive end while also handling return duties. He earned all-conference honors three times and was offensive player of the year twice, finishing his career with 5,770 all-purpose yards and 95 touchdowns.
But Luepke's stardom extended well beyond the gridiron. He was a dominant wrestler, becoming the first in school history to win a state championship - which he did twice, first in the 195-pound class and again as a senior at 220 pounds, capping off a year in which he went 49-0.
And yet, there's more. Luepke starred on the baseball diamond, thrice earning all-conference honors as a centerfielder, and the track, winning the conference title in the 100-meter dash.
Still, Luepke was underrated, being labeled as a two-star recruit and getting only a few offers, including from North Dakota State. After redshirting as a true freshman, Luepke emerged to earn honorable mention All-Missouri Valley in 2019, kickstarting a four-year run as one of the best fullbacks - and running backs - in college football.
The season after, Luepke overcame injury to earn first-team All-American honors despite missing four of 10 games; in his first game back, he had 28 carries for 190 yards and three scores alone.
Over the following two years, Luepke continued his domination, once more being named an All-American and finishing No. 12 in voting for the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the top offensive player at the FCS level.
Some may look at the competition and shrug, but Luepke dominated regardless of who was across from him - just take his performance against Pac-12 foe Arizona. In a narrow 31-28 road defeat, Luepke had 180 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, leading his team in both rushing and receiving.
In 2021, Luepke was named Most Outstanding Player in the FCS Championship Game, taking 14 carries for 82 yards and three touchdowns against a Montana State defense that produced several professional players, including Atlanta Falcons second-round draft pick Troy Andersen.
There's also the off-field element, where Luepke's resume is perhaps even lengthier than his list of on-field accolades. A member of the Honor Society in both high school and college, Luepke earned several academic all-district and all-conference honors and won the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner's excellence award twice.
Now, Luepke will aim to carry his success over to Dallas, where coach Mike McCarthy appears intrigued by the playmaking potential and role versatility that the 6-1, 236-pound fullback provides. And that versatility can be about more than being "just a fullback,'' with the limitations on snaps that can go with that.
We're careful to avoid foolish comparisons here; Is this Peyton Hillis? Daryl Johnston? Tom Rathman? Kyle Juszczyk? That might be a bit much. (And yes, we understand why some see all of these guys as similar.) But given the fact that Luepke can run, catch, block, play special teams and think?
Maybe he's something more than "just a fullback.'' Maybe he'll prove to be more valuable than just your run-of-the-mill UDFA,
Of course, Luepke's status as an undrafted free agent fails to lock in that he'll make the Cowboys' final 53-man roster, though his $180,000 guaranteed salary and $20,000 signing bonus (as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) shows added belief on Dallas' behalf.
But ultimately, regardless of activity, be it any one of several sports or sitting in the classroom, Luepke's always been a star ... and is now living life inside of it - The Star, that is - with full intent to leave another legacy some 1,000 miles away from home.
More must-reads: