Isaac TeSlaa is now a wide receiver for the University of Arkansas. Courtesy | Hana Connelly
In his first season as a wide receiver for the University of Arkansas, former Hillsdale Charger football player Isaac TeSlaa has made 25 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown as the Razorbacks’ go-to slot receiver.
Before transferring to the Division I team last spring, TeSlaa showcased his talent during the two seasons he spent playing for the Chargers: TeSlaa earned 2022 G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year, catching 68 passes for 1,325 yards, and scoring 13 touchdowns.
“The transition from Hillsdale to Arkansas has been great,” TeSlaa said. “Obviously, there are many things that differ when comparing Hillsdale to Arkansas athletically and academically.”
TeSlaa said Hillsdale is a unique school when it comes to the importance of academics.
“While at other schools the importance of academics is stressed, it is not ingrained into you the way it is at Hillsdale,” TeSlaa said. “At Arkansas, the academic side of the student athlete is stressed much less than at Hillsdale.”
TeSlaa said the athletics at the University of Arkansas are far more rigorous than what he experienced at Hillsdale. Still, he said he misses Hillsdale’s education, community, and the interpersonal relationships between students and their professors or coaches.
“I do sometimes miss the education offered at Hillsdale,” TeSlaa said. “The standard that students and athletes are held to at Hillsdale is extremely high. I’m proud to say I had my first three years of schooling there.”
In addition to the academic benefits of his Hilldale years, TeSlaa said the Hillsdale College athletic department helped him in many ways.
“He was a very exciting player to watch,” Director of Athletics John Tharp said. “Isaac was an incredibly hard worker, and I am happy that he was able to begin here. I hope that Hillsdale has laid the foundation for success both at Arkansas and after graduating.”
Sophomore Josie TeSlaa, TeSlaa’s younger sister and Hillsdale volleyball player, said Hillsdale laid the foundation for her brother athletically.
“I think Hillsdale did a great job at developing Isaac as a wide receiver,” Josie said. “Coming out of high school, Isaac was a quarterback transitioning into the wide receiver position.”
Josie said TeSlaa worked hard to make his transition from quarterback to wide receiver appear seamless.
“You could say Hillsdale took a chance on Isaac and helped him develop into the great player he is,” Josie said. “His insane athleticism definitely helps, but a lot of the credit also goes to the coaches at Hillsdale who believed in him and helped him get to where he is today. I know he is very grateful for the opportunity the Hillsdale coaches gave him to advance.”
The Hillsdale College athletic department is known to be rigorous in a similar fashion to the academics of Hillsdale. Tharp said this demanded level of rigor does not inhibit student athletes.ather, it further develops them as leaders both on and off the field.
“TeSlaa is an example of the program benefiting students the way we seek to coach them athletically,” Tharp said. “The truth is, if you’re good enough you’re gonna be found by professional athletics regardless of if you go somewhere else. People are still making it to the big leagues through the programs we have.”
Tharp said students from all different athletic programs at Hillsdale have gone on to play professional sports.
Tharp said that Zach VanValkenburg ’19, who plays professional football for the Los Angeles Rams, and Peter Kalthoff ’23, plays professional basketball in Slovakia, are testaments to the Hillsdale athletic program’s success in producing well-rounded students and athletes.
TeSlaa said he is grateful to Hillsdale for the rigor and development he experienced during his time as a Hillsdale student.
“Hillsdale definitely challenged me to become a better student and a better man in ways that I will carry with me for the rest of my life,” TeSlaa said.
