2019 Draft: Linebackers, Offensive OT/Guard & DB

[*Synric*]

Chase Hansen is an interesting prospect at Linebacker. Hansen is one of those former safeties switched to linebacker but unlike most of them Hansen had 2 successful seasons at Strong Safety before switching to linebacker. His stats in 2018 are 114 Tackles (70 solo) 2 INTs (1 TD) 4 PDs 5 sacks and 22 TFLs.

Quote:Hansen’s first year as a starter came as a sophomore safety in 2016 and he made an impact right away. As a coverage defender, Hansen was targeted 42 times and allowed 21 receptions for 202 yards with no touchdowns, three interceptions, two pass breakups and opposing quarterbacks had a 34.0 passer rating when throwing into his coverage. As a junior in 2017, Hansen (missing five games due to injury) was targeted 18 times and allowed 10 catches for 62 yards with one touchdown, one interception, one pass breakup while opposing quarterbacks had a 58.1 passer rating when throwing into his coverage. Hansen surrendered only 0.35 yards per coverage snap in 2017, which ranked 23rd among returning FBS safeties heading into this season.

Seeing something in him to make the switch to linebacker, Hansen has been a productive blitzer when given the opportunity. In 2016, Hansen had two sacks, six QB hits and six hurries on 41 pass-rushing snaps for a 26.8 pass-rushing productivity rating, ranking No. 1 among all FBS safeties. In 2017, Hansen had one sack and four hits and his pass-rushing productivity rating of 19.0 ranked No. 7 among all returning FBS safeties.

He has always played the run like a linebacker and has been a sure tackler. As previously mentioned, he often was aligned at linebacker depth when he played safety and a season ago, Hansen played 94.3% of run snaps within eight yards of the line of scrimmage. Hansen’s previous second-level usage has made his transition to linebacker look easy.

Hansen took to the position switch to linebacker by not only retraining his brain but his body as well. Hansen added weight during the offseason to help him take on offensive linemen on a more regular basis and play closer to the line of scrimmage and is now playing at 230 pounds.

Through three games this season, Hansen is grading positively at all three aspects of linebacker play: run defense, pass-rush and coverage. He currently has an 85.1 overall grade which ranks him No. 18 among all FBS linebackers who’ve played at least 20% of their team’s defensive snaps.

He is an athletic coverage defender in addition to being an effective blitzer against the pass and has one interception – a pick-six in Week 2 against Northern Illinois when he jumped a slant route – and opposing quarterbacks have a lowly 49.5 passer rating when throwing into Hansen’s coverage this year.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/college-breaking-down-chase-hansens-successful-switch-to-linebacker-at-utah

Edit: Coney, Pratt, Cameron Smith, Josh Allen, and Hansen have all accepted Senior Bowl invites.