Steelers 2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Minnesota DT Ra’Shede Hageman

Good friend Dave-Te’ Thomas of Scouting Services has finished his player profiles of several of the top 2014 NFL Draft prospects and over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting the ones that the Pittsburgh Steelers will more than likely have interest in. Being as Minnesota defensive lineman Ra’Shede Hageman has now been brought in for a pre draft visit, we will post his player profile. Thomas has done these profiles for the NFL for several years and I know that many of you enjoy reading them.

RA’SHEDE HAGEMAN
Defensive Tackle
University of Minnesota Gophers
#99
6:05.7-310
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Washburn High School

OVERVIEW

If Hageman had to choose role models, he could not have picked a better pair than Houston’s J.J. Watt and Detroit’s Ndamukong Suh, as he tries to combine their best attributes to blend into his own style of play. He calls Suh “a beast” and noted that “Watt is so quick.” The nose guard also used the benefit of his senior season to refine some rough areas of his game, even though many expected him to bolt school early for life in the National Football League last year.

Hageman also said the main reason he didn’t turn pro was that he wanted to get his degree. He also admitted he had more to learn about playing the position. “I want to be fundamentally sound before I head to the next level,” he said. Now a towering 310-pound nose guard, he is still relatively a neophyte as a down lineman, having been signed to originally play as a 235-pound tight end in 2009.

Hageman had to work through a “few bumps in the road” to become the mature, respected team leader he is today. The two-year starter spent part of his youth shuttling through the foster care system before being adopted by two lawyers. Being in a less stressful home environment helped him excel in athletics during his prep days.

Hageman attended local Washburn High School, where he helped the team compile an 8-2 mark and a 5-1 conference record as a senior. The previous season, he gained 663 yards with twelve touchdowns on 25 receptions. The three-time All-City selection was named all-state by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press and the Minnesota Vikings in 2008.

Hageman was named all-metro by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and earned all-conference honors after he hauled in eleven touchdown passes as a senior. He played in the Under Armour All-America Game and was ranked as the top tight end prospect and the 97th-best overall prospect in the nation by recruiting expert Tom Lemming.

He also ranked as the third-best player in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com, as that recruiting service regarded him as the sixth-best tight end in the nation. Scout.com, ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc. rated him the 11th- best in the nation at his position and he earned a four-star rating from Scout.

Hageman also excelled in basketball and some schools regarded him as a better prospect in hoops than on the gridiron. When Minnesota was recruiting the youngster, they offered him scholarships in both sports. He earned a three-star rating from Rivals after he averaged 12.0 points per game on the hardwood as a junior. He also competed in that sport for the Howard Pulley AAU team.

Hageman turned down offers from more prestigious programs to stay close to home when he enrolled at Minnesota in 2009. Other finalists for his services were Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. He arrived on campus as a tight end, but was converted to defensive end by the former coaching staff.

The once 235-pound tight end arrived at 2010 fall camp measuring in at 302 pounds. He was listed second on the depth chart at weak-side defensive tackle, appearing in eight games before being ruled academically ineligible, finishing with five tackles.

Hageman improved his academics and was reinstated to the team for the 2011 schedule, but still could not crack the starting lineup. In twelve contests, he posted thirteen tackles with a pair of sacks. He shifted to nose guard the following season, starting all thirteen contests. The All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention ranked second on the team with six sacks, delivering 7.5 stops-for-loss among his 35 tackles.

As a senior, Hageman enjoyed a banner campaign, as the consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice again started all thirteen games at nose guard. He paced the Gophers with thirteen stops behind the line of scrimmage, receiving the team’s version of the Bronko Nagurski Award while being named All-American third-team after he posted 38 tackles with two sack, an interception and a pair of blocked kicks.

Hageman cemented his place among the draft’s elite players with his stellar performances throughout the week-long practices in Mobile leading up to the 2014 Senior Bowl. He caught a few “oohs and aahs” during the game’s weigh-in, displaying a muscular frame with impressive arm length. He then went out to the field and flashed dominating strength and length, routinely driving opponents into the backfield with a his bull rush and showing impressive burst for a man of his imposing 6-foot-6, 318-pound frame.

Hageman was tough to handle in one-on-one drills — putting Miami guard Brandon Linder on his back during one particularly explosive rush — but carried over his impressive play into the full 11-on-11 scrimmages, as well. He left the Senior Bowl convincing teams to consider his power, size and athleticism. Teams operating under 4-3 and 3-4 principles, alike, were taking notice.

Representatives from more than half the NFL teams were on-hand at the University of Minnesota pro day in early March, where nine former Gophers were among those to work out. The star attraction was Hageman, who went through an array of positional drills.
“Obviously, when the coaches came, they wanted to see me do drills, see how my footwork is and just my technique or whatever,” Hageman told USA Today. “So, I felt like it was a good move for me. I feel like I put a good amount of numbers just to stand out at the combine.”

Hageman is seeking to become the first Gopher selected in the first round since running back Laurence Maroney in 2006. “That is a very long time,” Hageman told the Star-Tribune. “So I think I’m just going to barricade myself in my room. Just play video games and just work out.”

CAREER NOTES

Hageman appeared in a total of forty-six games at Minnesota, starting his final twenty-six contests at nose guard … Finished with 91 tackles (57 solos), as he delivered ten sacks for minus 76 yards, 24.0 stops for losses totaling 114 yards and one quarterback pressure … Caused two fumbles, recovered another and blocked two kicks … Gained seven yards via an interception return and deflected ten passes.

SEASON ANALYSIS

2013 SEASON

Hageman was named All-American third-team by Athlon Sports and was a consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice … Received the university’s version of the Bronko Nagurski Award, which is given annually to the team’s most valuable player, becoming the first defensive player to win the award since Willie VanDeSteeg in 2008 … Also received the team’s Carl Eller Award as the team’s outstanding defensive player and was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year … Started all thirteen games at nose guard, recording 38 tackles (26 solos) that included two sacks for minus 16 yards … Led the Gophers with a career-high thirteen stops for losses totaling 50 yards … Credited with a quarterback pressure, a fumble recovery, an interception and two blocked kicks … Recorded five tackles, including one for a loss vs. Nevada-Las Vegas, as he also broke up one pass at the line of scrimmage and blocked a field goal that resulted in a Minnesota touchdown after Martez Shabazz returned it 51 yards … Made three tackles, which included two-for-loss at New Mexico State … Tied for the team lead with six tackles, which included two stops-for-loss and one sack, vs. Western Illinois, as he also broke up one pass and blocked a point-after attempt … Delivered two tackles, including one for a loss vs. San Jose State … Made four tackles and broke up one pass vs. Iowa … Registered three tackles, including one for a loss at Michigan … Notched one tackle, three pass break-ups and the first interception of his career at Northwestern … Tallied three solo tackles, including two stops-for-loss and one sack vs. Nebraska … Notched three solo tackles, including two for a loss vs. Wisconsin and made two solo tackles, broke up one pass and recovered one fumble at Michigan State.

2012 SEASON

Hageman earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention from the media during his first season as the Gophers’ starting nose guard … Recorded 35 tackles (20 solos), as he finished second on the team with six sacks for minus 43 yards, adding 7.5 stops for losses totaling 46 yards … Deflected two passes and caused one fumble … Posted five tackles and had one sack at Nevada-Las Vegas, adding three solo tackles, which included two sacks vs. New Hampshire … Notched four tackles and forced a fumble in vs. Syracuse … Made four tackles, including one sack at Wisconsin, followed by a season-high six tackles vs. Michigan … Produced six more tackles, including one sack, vs. Texas Tech in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

2011 SEASON

Hageman appeared in all twelve games as a reserve weak-side defensive tackle, as he produced thirteen tackles (10 solos) with two sacks for minus 14 yards, 3.5 stops for losses of 18 yards and one forced fumble … Tallied two tackles (one solo) with one stop-for-loss vs. Nebraska … Notched a season-high five tackles (four solo) in a 22-21 victory over Iowa … Credited with two sacks and forced a fumble in a 27-7 victory over Illinois.

2010 SEASON

Appeared in eight games during the season as a reserve, making five tackles before being ruled academically ineligible.

2009 SEASON

Hageman red-shirted as a freshman, as the staff converted him from tight end to defensive end.

OFF-FIELD ISSUES

Hageman was arrested for misdemeanor disorderly conduct following an incident at a bar near campus in May of 2012. He was arrested at 2:39 a.m. and booked into the Hennepin County Jail after being released after posting a $50 bond. Minnesota spokesman told ESPN.com that Hageman was trying to break up a fight when police arrived and began making arrests.

INJURY REPORT

No major injuries reported.

AGILITY TESTS

5.19 in the 40-yard dash … 1.83 10-yard dash … 3.04 20-yard dash … 4.47 20-yard shuttle … 7.49 three-cone drill … 26 ½-inch vertical jump … 9’-0” broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 32 times … 34 ¼-inch arm length … 10 ¼-inch left hand … 9 7/8-inch right hand … 82 5/8-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Hageman Attended Washburn (Minneapolis, Minn.) High School, playing football for head coach Giovanni Jenkins … Helped the team compile an 8-2 mark and a 5-1 conference record as a senior … The previous season, he gained 663 yards with twelve touchdowns on 25 receptions … The three-time All-City selection was named all-state by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press and the Minnesota Vikings in 2008 … Named all-metro by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and earned all-conference honors after he hauled in eleven touchdown passes as a senior … Played in the Under Armour All-America Game and was ranked as the top tight end prospect and the 97th-best overall prospect in the nation by recruiting expert Tom Lemming … Ranked as the third-best player in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com, as that recruiting service regarded him as the sixth-best tight end in the nation … Scout.com, ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc. rated him the 11th- best in the nation at his position and he earned a four-star rating from Scout.com … Also excelled in basketball and some schools regarded him as a better prospect in hoops than on the gridiron … Earned a three-star rating from Rivals after he averaged 12.0 points per game on the hardwood as a junior … Also competed in that sport for the Howard Pulley AAU team.

PERSONAL

Hageman is a youth studies major … Son of Jill Coyle and Eric Hageman … Born 8/08/90 …
Resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

PLAYER STATISTICS