Grambling's Hatcher Getting Praise Nationally

[TexasTerror]

The Texans could definitely use a pass rusher. Texans have tapped the Grambling (Pettway) and I-AA (Mathis) pipeline before. If Hatcher is around in the beginning of the fifth round, the Texans need to take him. Problem is, he may not be around that long and the Texans have some other needs.

Good to see Hatcher is definitely getting some love. Could improve that draft status from "second day steal" to maybe a tweener on getting into day one...
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Scott Wright of NFLDraftCountdown.com noted that Hatcher "has outstanding size and a huge frame. He can penetrate and knows how to get after the quarterback."

ESPN's Mel Kiper listed Hatcher as a "second-day steal," while Glenn Bernardi of DraftDaddy.com has Hatcher among its Elite 20 for small schools.

"He reminds me of current NFL defensive end/tackle Richard Seymour, with a similar body structure and movement within the interior line area," said Ken Becks of FantasyFootballToolbox. "Among their other similarities are an active motor and the ability to beat opponents consistently in one-on-one situations. If he were to add the extra weight, he could really be a force at the next level."

The knock on Hatcher, as it is with so many standout Division I-AA prospects, is that he might have "gotten by on talent, because he was so much better than the competition," according to Wright and others.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/SPORTS/602270338/1006/

[mikebigg]

Good ballplayer and nice young man. Still says no sir and yes sir to his elders. Just a big ole country boy from a little small north La town (Jena) about 25 miles east of Alexandria (Central Louisiana). A married father who passed up a final possible year of eligiblity to provide for his family... Man yall gotta see his 5 year old son. Kid looks to be 9 years old already!

[MACHIAVELLI]

Defensive Ends

Mario Williams, NC State
Tamba Hali, Penn State
Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
Mark Anderson, Alabama
Manny Lawson, NC State
Darryl Tapp, Virginia Tech
Ray Edwards, Purdue
Kamerion Wimbley, Florida State
Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
Jason Hatcher, Grambling
http://www.110football.com/prospects06.php

[MACHIAVELLI]

Jason Hatcher DE | (6'5", 284, 4.92) | GRAMBLING Scouts Grade: 37
Strengths: Possesses great size and strength. Is tall, well-built and powerful. Has good overall bulk and shows the lower body strength to anchor. Is able to hold his ground versus the run when he plays with leverage. Has long arms and big hands. Shows good quickness and mobility for his size. Also has good leaping ability and will bat down a lot of passes at the LOS. Shows some ability to drive OT's back into the pocket as a power rusher.

Weaknesses: Is raw and unpolished. Plays too high at times and lets linemen get into his body. Must learn to play with better leverage and to use his hands more properly. Lacks adequate top-end speed and is not a threat to turn the corner as a perimeter pass rusher. Does not show an array of pass rush moves and is too one-dimensional in that facet.

Overall: Hatcher was a two-year starter at Grambling. He took over as a starter during his junior season in 2004, when he tallied 33 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. He finished his senior season in 2005 with 71 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. Hatcher comes from the small school level and will have a difficult transition to make to the NFL. He is raw and needs lots of polish. However, he has very good size and strength, as well as adequate speed/agility for such a big defensive end. In short, Hatcher shows enough upside as a power-end prospect to warrant late round consideration.

Source: NFL Insider

[MACHIAVELLI]

excerpt from the GSU vs WSU game

The most interesting battle was between left tackle Bobby Byrd and NFL bound Grambling defensive end Jason Hatcher. Hatcher ended up with 7 tackles on the day and might have had the slight edge in the battle, but Byrd held his own against one of the better ends he will see this season.

http://washingtonstate.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=456467

[MACHIAVELLI]

from the 49er Fan website

RND PICK PLAYER POS COLLEGE
1 6 Vernon Davis TE Maryland
2 37 Manny Lawson OLB North Carolina State
3 68 Chris Chester C Oklahoma
3 84 Pat Watkins S Florida State
4 100 Reggie McNeal QB/WR Texas A&M
5 140 Jason Hatcher DE Grambling State
6 175 Matt Bernstein FB Wisconsin
6 192 Brandon Johnson OLB Louisville
7 213 Eric Bassey CB Oklahoma
7 236 Willie Hall OT Middle Tennessee State
7 254 Derrick Martin CB Wyoming

http://49ers.hosttown.com/lofiversion/index.php/t45104.html

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49er fan forum

7- #236: DE - Jason Hatcher
-- Of all the late round project DE that could be used in a 3-4, I think I like Hatcher the best. He's a beast, but simply lacks the experience. If he learns the right technique to gain more leverage, his consistency should improve and he could be a real late-round steal as a DE. Size, speed, and strength.. at his point in the draft, you might as well look for those things in a prospect.
http://mb16.scout.com/f49ersfansfrm11.showMessage?topicID=6377.topic

[TexasTerror]

Hatcher won't last to the fifth round. 49ers would be lucky to get him that early in the fifth. I'm thinking the Texans would snatch him up in the fourth as they need a DE as one of their top needs and I don't see them using their top two picks on one.