Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and played in the Under-Armour All-American game. He was highly regarded entering the Aggie program, however injuries slowed his development. He suffered a season-ending injury in his freshman year, resulting in a medical redshirt. In 2018 he missed the entire year due to injury as well. In 2019 he made the move from wide receiver to linebacker and has played in every game since.
Sixth-round pick Devin Harper had a phenomenal showing at the NFL combine, posting a 9.51 RAS score, which is likely one of the reasons he got drafted over Hansford. However, based on the film alone, did the Cowboys get better value in their undrafted free agent Hansford? Let’s dive into the film and find out.
Measurables and Stats
Listed Height: 6-foot-2
Listed Weight: 239 pounds
Jersey Number: 1
Stats (2021): 45 solo tackles, 89 total tackles
Impact Plays (2021): 8.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown
Film Study Information:
Games Watched: South Carolina (2020), Kent State (2021), Alabama (2021)
Best Game: Kent State (2021)
Worst Game: Alabama (2021)
Physical Skills Evaluation:
Range: Accelerates out of his stance quickly and is able to cover a decent amount of ground through that. Displays moments of adequately showing off good range.
Processing Speed: Steps toward the quarterback and the line of scrimmage with his first step. Can be slow to recognize the play as it develops.
Tackling: Sound tackler, if he gets hands on you, he is likely wrapping you up and bringing you to the ground.
Toughness/Power @ POA: Doesn’t posses a lot of power and can often get rendered ineffective. There is no visible pop in his pads when he attacks an offensive lineman.
Versatility: Coverage ability and range lead him to be on the field for third-down…
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