NORMAN - He hasn't played a game yet in Sooner crimson, but already Hayden Hansen is gaining fan support from his enthusiasm.
In April, he joyfully proclaimed the Oklahoma running game is "here" following Brent Venables'demands that it return. Hansen has the gift of gab and a smile to win him any argument.
But this time of year boils down to "Can you play?" Hansen knows this and stands by his, albeit not very flashy, production at Florida , where he played almost "every snap of every game," as he said during OU Media Day.
Now with a new team, Hansen is prepared to step outside his comfort zone and be the man for the job - no matter what it is.
Oklahoma tight end Hayden Hansen jogs off the field during practice. | Carson Field / Sooners On SI
Hansen, who prides himself on doing the dirty work for the offense, knows it can lead to some matchup advantages for him.
"Iknow the more dirty work I do is the more production I'll get, because they forget about you. You leak out, you get a mismatch on a corner or a linebacker and you go up and catch it," he said.
The 6-7 behemoth tight end knows his skill production won't excite many people. His 30 catches for 280 yards and two touchdowns don't scream the second coming of Jermaine Gresham , but that's okay; it doesn't hinder Hansen from chasing more.
"I showed glimpses of it and I'm always working towards to show more," Hansen said. "But at the end of the day, I also know my strengths and what this tight end room needed for me to come here, and I'm no stranger to it. I run to it.
Oklahoma tight end Hayden Hansen | Carson Field / Sooners On SI
"At the end of the day, I'll do whatever I can do to help this team, in the end it'll come back and help me."
Hansen is hopeful his attitude will quickly mesh with his new quarterback, John Mateer . The two already bonded during spring ball and spent hours together in Mateer's built-in sauna in his garage. Hansen knows that a quarterback's best friend is a big-bodied tight end with soft hands.
"I try to build just the best security blanket in the world basically," Hansen said. "Like, if you're rolling out and going through your reads and you're like, 'Dang, everyone's covered,' just go find the 6-7 giant. I'm there somewhere. Give me a chance."
Hansen's enthusiasm won him a lot of new fans. His blocking expertise could lead to more support if it helps the rushing attack return. Anything else is a cherry on top, but for Hansen, he just wants to win.
"Obviously, I'm not even worried about me in the first place. I want to win a national championship," he added.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/oklahoma as Hayden Hansen Isn't Just a Blocking Tight End, He's 'Whatever' Oklahoma Needs .
