Gators’ Hansen Looking To Prove Doubts Wrong Once Again

GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- Ahead of Hayden Hansen’s redshirt-junior season, the Florida Gators starting tight end is, once again, set out to prove the doubters wrong.

After a strong year for the 6-foot-6.25, 269-pound tight end that included 15 catches, 207 yards and a touchdown, Hansen comes into year four as a Gator determined to take another step as a receiver.

“That’s something I always strive for. I feel like that’s the biggest part of my game that people doubt, and I’m always out there proving them wrong about it," Hansen said Thursday. “I know that I’m a great blocker and I’m always looking to continue to improve there, but also I have a chip on my shoulder in the pass game as well.”

While finishing fourth on the team in receiving yards last season, the Texas native has a long way to go to earn the title of a ‘threat’ in the passing game. He accounted for just around seven percent of the team's passing yards and receptions in 2024, while his yards-per-route-run was fifth amongst nine Florida players with over 15 targets.

With room to improve, Hansens’ first focus was improving his ability to create room.

“It’s just in little details like creating separation," he said. "You’re never going to be one hundred percent open in this league, so it’s always about the little mechanics you can do…That’s what I was really working on, using my length to get open. It was already showing up, I mean I think I caught about five or six passes in the first half of team, which is a lot for the tight ends in this system.”