Ra’Shede Hageman, Senior, Defensive End, Minnesota
Overview:
Ra’Shede Hageman could be one of the most interesting prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft. Hageman is a 6-6, 311 pound defensive lineman, but he is also a freak athlete. When he was a freshman, basketball coach Tubby Smith tried to get him to add some athletic depth to his frontcourt. Hageman opted to focus on football, but he never lost his basketball athleticism. He has an amazing vertical for a 311 pound lineman and is also extremely quick. Among defensive linemen at the 2014 NFL combine, Hageman will likely be the fastest.
But Hageman is not all running and jumping. He has been pretty productive during his time as a defensive tackle at Minnesota. As an underclassman he played off of the bench, but that changed in 2012. Hageman started all 13 games and recorded 35 tackles and 6.0 sacks.
Final Projection:
Hageman does not lack strength, but he does need to improve on his technique. The Golden Gophers often get pushed back way too easily on the line. If Hageman can keep his pad level down, Minnesota’s defense will be much better stopping the run and Hageman’s draft stock will start soaring. The other issue heading to the next level is where Hageman should play. He has been a defensive tackle at Minnesota, but he has some nice pass rushing moves and his athleticism would be better utilized on the end. Versatility is not a bad thing, yet if NFL teams do not know where they want to play him, they will not draft him early.
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