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Tight end Hayden Hansen commits to the Gators, breaks down official visit

79417-removebg-preview (1)by:Corey Bender•01/23/22•

Corey_Bender

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The Gators have reeled in their tight end from the class of 2022, as three-star prospect Hayden Hansen just announced his commitment to the SEC program.

Hansen, who spent this weekend in Gainesville for his official visit, was also committed to Billy Napier at Louisiana before reopening his recruitment on Nov. 28. He received the highly-coveted offer from the Gators on Saturday and then wasted little time pulling himself off the market.

“I loved seeing Napier again, man,” Hansen told Gators Online’s Donavon Keiser after his official visit. “The staff is from UL originally and that’s where I was committed to. They never gave up on me, they believed in me, and it’s the place I want to be.

“It’s awesome getting an offer from the same dude twice. I kind of feel like it’s meant to be.”

However, Hansen says there were still some nerves prior to setting foot on campus.

“A relief. I came here a little anxious and didn’t know if I was wasting a visit or not.” Hansen said. “I knew in the back of my mind he believed in me. It didn’t surprise me, but it did at the same time.

“(Napier) offered me on the 50-yard line of the stadium; it was pretty cool.”

Gators tight end showed Hansen the ins and outs of the program

Fellow tight end Nick Elksnis served as the player host throughout Hansen’s three-day stay in Gainesville.

“Nick was awesome,” Hansen said. “He told me about the staff and players. He showed me where he lives, where he used to live. Also, he kind of compared the two from the Mullen era to the Napier era.

“Culture; the big thing was culture and how Napier just got here and how he’s already fixed the parking arrangements and the living arrangements.”

In addition to the Gators, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Hansen possesses offers from the likes of Washington State, Colorado, UTSA and New Mexico.

According to the On3 Consensus Rankings, Hansen is a three-star prospect and the No. 103 tight end. He is the No. 82 tight end in On3’s individual rankings.

During the 2021 season, the Weatherford (Texas) standout hauled in 38 catches for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

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