Our Honor Defend

The third edition of this now 19-part series titled Better Know A Buckeye continues profiling members of the 2010 recruiting class.  This eleventh installment profiles Chad Hagan in particular.  Hagan, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, is coming to Ohio State in a manner similar to Zach Domicone in the 2008 recruiting class.  He was recruited as a big safety, uncertain if he may end up growing into the linebacker rotation.  Unlike Domicone, his recruitment was a little more conventional, culminating in an August 7th, 2009 commitment.  I review his recruitment and commitment below, later discussing strengths, weaknesses and miscellaneous things of various degrees of importance.  I then conclude he is better known and put him on the board accordingly.

Height: 6’2
Weight: 225lbs
40: 4.35 (more on this later)
High School: Canon McMillan HS; Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

His Recruitment: Playing on an eye-popping high school football team is a sure way to get some attention from prospective college football programs.  In Hagan’s case, he was one part of a rushing tandem comprised of himself and Penn State-bound Mike Hull, shown here with bleached blonde hair.  Hull was the bigger attraction of that team, but Hagan’s contributions made it every bit the league’s backfield of terror.  The team struggled overall, but the duo performed well.  At season’s end, Hagan was receiving consideration from programs across the Midwest.  He helped his case at the 2009 Scout Combine at Pittsburgh in early March.  Therein, he ran a timed 4.29 40 (more on this later), the fastest of any performer there.  The list of attendees included names like Cullen Christian, Steve Miller, Jamel Turner, Kenny Wilkins, Courtney Avery and more.  Further, at that height and weight, the intrigue was definitely there.

It nevertheless took awhile before that interest culminated in a scholarship offer.  Illinois was probably the first big name offer (given its BCS status), but even this did not leave a lasting impression.  While the offer sheet was basically empty, Hagan was free to construct his preference orderings.  His preferences were strictly regional; he privileged Pitt, Penn State and Ohio State.  One school in particular, Ohio State, seemed to be the most interested.  Hagan, as a result, reciprocated that interest.  He had been on campus to observe practices and attend a few functions, enough to be familiar with them.  Further, Luke Fickell gave a real assurance to Hagan.  His scholarship offer would come in May, upon reception of his SAT score.

Ohio State received his test score, one that was right where the coaching staff wanted it to be.  However, the coveted Ohio State offer that Hagan wanted came only after the Buckeyes may have been one-upped by Michigan.  The Wolverines offered while the Buckeyes were still looking things over, joined by offers from North Carolina State and Buffalo¹.  While an offer from a storied program may have been enough to get Hagan to re-evaluate his preferences, it actually gave Hagan a pretext to joke with Fickell about the status of his offer.  Rather than harass Fickell about when his offer would come, Hagan joked about what the hold-up could possibly be if the hated rivals beat them to the punch.  The timing of the call was coincidental.  Fickell was going to call the next day and inform Hagan that his offer was in the mail.  He almost committed on the spot.

It was clear Hagan would commit well before signing day, thinking of a summer or early fall decision.  Ohio State was the clear favorite, but Hagan held off on a decision for awhile.  Part of it was courtesy, the other component of the delay attributable to wanting to be sure of his decision.  Part of making sure was returning to Ohio State on another unofficial visit, where Hagan said he’d assess the situation further and pray on it.

His Commitment: Further post-visit reflection the weekend he returned to Ohio State in early August wasn’t necessary; he committed there in front of Jim Tressel.  The visit went perfectly, prompting Hagan to see no reason to extend the process any further.  The commitment to Ohio State was the logical conclusion of everything developing previously.  It was no surprise, but the write-ups on the situation nevertheless give interesting insight to the recruiting process.

“I’ve been to Ohio State a few times,” Hagan said.  “I love the school.  It’s just awesome.  I like their tradition, and I like how the coaches react with the players.”

Hagan spoke with Buckeye assistants Luke Fickell and Paul Haynes today, and met with Jim Tressel in Tressel’s office.

“That was the first time I’ve been in his office,” Hagan said.  “It’s ridiculous.  Coach Tressel was showing me their Big Ten and National Championship rings.  He said he needed me to help get some more of those.

“I told him I was ready to do that.  He was ecstatic.  He was really excited.”

Hagan was the eleventh commitment of the 2010 class.  A recruiting effort that saw the Buckeyes try to lure the nation’s best secondary prospects, Hagan was the first defensive back to join the class.

Where He Excels: Chad Hagan is an interesting case to try to break down.  He is that tweener type of prospect.  Big, fast, but not as fast (or too stiff, wooden) and perhaps too big.  Ohio State loves the beefy tailbacks, but offered him as SS/LB-type player.  Meanwhile, Wisconsin, who also loves the beefy tailbacks, offered Hagan thinking that he fit into their running back stable.  He played much more tailback than defense for his Canon-Mac team.

It gets even more interesting when one considers that Hagan did not play football his sophomore year of high school.  No, he wasn’t injured and, no, it is not like he just picked up the sport.  He played his freshman year and opted to skip his sophomore year of football to focus on basketball.  The sophomore year is an important one for player development², and Hagan did not have it.  I don’t even think he camped anywhere, which may underscore the overall lack of offers and low rankings.  All told, we’re left breaking down Hagan more on potential than the average college football recruit.

Therein, Chad Hagan definitely intrigues on speed.  He’s been clocked by Scout running an absurd 4.29 40, a measure that’s hard to take too seriously given the little reliability those measures have with 40 times taken elsewhere.  Rivals.com has him running a 4.4.  Bucknuts’ data splits the difference, putting him at a 4.35.  Whatever the case, Hagan is fast for his frame.  It’s a top-end speed, not one that shows in short bursts.  Whatever one thinks of that 4.29 40 time given at the Scout Pittsburgh combine, it seems more interesting considering that he was running on an undiagnosed shin stress fracture.

I really want him to stick in the safety rotation.  Kurt Coleman performed well for Ohio State, especially as a senior.  I think we’ve been lacking at the position otherwise in recent years (compared to cornerbacks), leaving Buckeye fans longing for a regulator in centerfield like we had with Michael Doss or Donte Whitner.  A big safety with NFL size, who can fly to the point of attack in run support, would be a fan favorite in Columbus.  The potential is there on size and speed alone.

Must Work On: Three years of high school football, most of it playing running back, means Hagan will have a higher learning curve than most.  The necessary nuance and complexity that one must comprehend moving from the high school level to the college level increases exponentially.  Everyone has that learning curve, some more than others.  I think Hagan will be in that boat.

Further, I have some nascent curiosity just how fluid of an athlete he is.  This becomes less problematic for safeties than cornerbacks (and even less so for linebackers than safeties), but it is something to consider.

Beyond that, Hagan’s challenge is to make the transition to defense full-time and to try to thrive at safety.

Redshirt? Hagan could conceivably be a special teams performer his freshman year, but I find this unlikely.  I think it is even more important that he spends a year redshirting, using the additional work that comes with a redshirt to better mature into his role in the secondary.

Highlights: Below.

Miscellany:

• Pitt Post-Gazette does the awesome features on high school standouts for its football-made readership (see previous BKABs on Western PA signees).  Part of their feature on Chad Hagan is reproduced below.  Some of these answers are fantastic.

Why didn’t you play football as a sophomore? There were a lot of mixed feelings. I felt I just wanted to be a basketball player. I thought I’d grow a lot more, and plus I didn’t really get along with the football seniors that year. At the time, I thought basketball was my thing.

Why did you come back to football? Mike Hull [Canon-McMillan running back-linebacker] and I are best friends. I felt like I was letting him down as well as the coaches here — and myself.

How does one put on 25 pounds since last season? A lot of dedication and hard work. I was killing myself in the weight room, and as soon as I’d get done there I’d eat three peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Favorite food? Steak, for sure. As for a restaurant, I like Red Lobster, just because of their biscuits.

Do you use Twitter? Not at all. I’m like Joe Paterno. I don’t even know what it is.

Plaxico Burress is … Stupid. How do you shoot yourself in the leg? That’s ridiculous. [OHD Ed.: Plaxico Burress just got told. *snap*]

People might be surprised to know that … I like to sing and dance. I’m like a Michael Jackson impersonator.

• His high school team name is the Big Macs.  Yes, they are the Canon McMillan (Canon-Mac) Big Macs.  Awesome, and that is definitely one of the better high school team names I’ve come across in these features.
• One of the bigger stories to emerge after his commitment was his heart condition.  Doctors discovered that Chad Hagan had a heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (see fluff stories: here, here).  Basically, his heart had an additional electrical connection that, if left undiagnosed, can result in rapid heartbeat, cardiac arrest and the (very remote) possibility of sudden death by cardiac arrest.  If diagnosed and properly, however, it becomes a non-issue.  The list of people who have this heart condition range from musical performers to professional wrestlers and athletes.  His words after he got the clearance to resume athletic activities after complications reappeared in February? “Tell Ohio State I’m coming.”
• Will start his career with #23.  He wanted #21, his high school number.
• His high school played Washington Trinity yearly, the same high school as Andrew Sweat and Andy Miller.
• Pre-compiled stats, courtesy of Bucknuts:

* Vital Statistics: As a senior in 2009, Hagan rushed for 630 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns, and added over 50 tackles defensively. That was despite missing two games at the beginning of the year while waiting for doctors to clear him because of his heart condition. He played safety and running back during his junior season.  Hagan made 63 tackles and rushed for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns. He projects as a safety at OSU.

* Rankings: Hagan is rated as the nation’s 90th-best safety by ESPN Scouts Inc. SuperPrep ranks Hagan as the 32nd-best prospect in Pennsylvania.

I think Chad Hagan is now better known.

I’ll put him on the board as well.

Class of 2010
Name	Position	Hometown	Better Known?	Name	Position	Hometown	Better Known?
Darryl Baldwin	DE	Solon, OH	05.25	James Louis	WR	Delray Beach, FL	06.21
Drew Basil	K	Chillicothe, OH	05.17	Scott McVey	LB	Cleveland, OH	05.03
Corey Brown 2010	ATH	Springfield, PA		JT Moore	DE	Youngstown, OH	02.15
Christian Bryant	DB	Cleveland, OH		Andrew Norwell	OL	Cincinnati, OH	03.29
David Durham	LB/DE	Charlotte, NC	04.12	Verlon Reed	ATH	Columbus, OH
Taylor Graham	QB	Wheaton, IL	05.08	Bradley Roby	DB	Suwanee, GA
Adam Griffin	ATH	Columbus, OH		Roderick Smith	RB	Fort Wayne, IN	05.13
Chad Hagan	LB/S	Canonsburg, PA	07.06	Jamel Turner	DE	Fork Union, VA	03.08
Johnathon Hankins	DT	Detroit, TSUN		Tyrone Williams	WR	Cleveland, OH
Carlos Hyde	RB	Naples, FL	06.29.09

1. …good company for Michigan, given the quality of their football of late.  Yes, I had to… [↩]
2. All years are, really, in a four year timeframe before college football. [↩]