 Hanson with Holy Cross in 2023 | |
| No. 61 – Kansas City Chiefs | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 3, 2001 Bergen County, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | DePaul Catholic (Wayne, New Jersey) |
| College: | Holy Cross (2019–2023) |
| NFL draft: | 2024 / Round: 7 / Pick: 248 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Christopher "C. J." Hanson (born March 3, 2001) is an American football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Holy Cross Crusaders and was selected by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life[edit]
Hanson was born on March 3, 2001, in Bergen County, New Jersey, and grew up in Wyckoff.[1] After playing flag football in second grade, he began playing tackle football in third grade; he also played a number of other sports including lacrosse growing up.[1] He attended DePaul Catholic High School and played four years on the varsity football team, but only was a starter as a senior, when he was named first-team All-County and second-team All-State at left guard and assisted as DePaul Catholic won the league title.[1] He committed to play college football for the FCS-level Holy Cross Crusaders as a zero-star recruit.[2]
College career[edit]
After a redshirt season in 2019 in which Hanson appeared in three games, he recorded his first start in the 2020–21 season while playing a total of three games in the season.[3] He then won the starting nod at right guard in 2021, starting all 13 games that year while being named second-team All-Patriot League by Phil Steele.[4] He started all 13 games in 2022, being named first-team All-Patriot League, and then as team captain in 2023 started all 11 games, earning first-team All-Patriot League, All-Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), All-New England and third-team All-American honors from Stats Perform.[4] In the 2023 season, he helped the team rank in the top six in the FCS in rushing offense, total offense and scoring offense, while allowing no sacks and eight pressures on 321 pass-blocking snaps.[2] He ended his collegiate career having started 38 games, helping the team compile records of 10–3 (2021), 12–1 (2022) and 7–4 (2023) in his three seasons as a full-time starter.[5][6] He was invited along with Jalen Coker to the NFL Scouting Combine, with him and Coker being the third and fourth players in school history to be invited as well as the first since 1988; he also played at the East–West Shrine Bowl.[7][8][9]
Professional career[edit]
Hanson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2024 NFL draft, becoming the first player from Holy Cross to be chosen since Rob McGovern in 1989, who was also selected by the Chiefs.[10][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Brugler, Dane (April 2024). "The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide" (PDF). The Athletic. p. 152.
- ^ a b McMullen, Matt (April 28, 2024). "Five Things to Know About Chiefs Seventh-Round Pick OL C.J. Hanson". Kansas City Chiefs.
- ^ "C.J. Hanson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". National Football League.
- ^ a b "C.J. Hanson". Holy Cross Crusaders.
- ^ "C.J. Hanson NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Kansas City Chiefs IOL". Bleacher Report. April 27, 2024.
- ^ Herder, Sam (April 2, 2024). "NFL Draft: C.J. Hanson, Jalen Coker Eye More History-Making Moments For Holy Cross". HERO Sports.
- ^ Shea, Kevin (January 29, 2024). "Two Holy Cross football players invited to NFL combine". Spectrum News.
- ^ Toland, Jennifer (March 21, 2024). "'This is a special place': Former Crusaders Jalen Coker, C.J. Hanson relish testing at Holy Cross Pro Day". Telegram & Gazette.
- ^ Shea, Kevin (February 1, 2024). "Former Holy Cross football stars getting NFL exposue at Shrine Bowl". Spectrum News.
- ^ Kerkhoff, Blair (April 27, 2024). "Chiefs' final pick in 2024 NFL Draft was 'confident, comfortable and ready to rip it'". The Kansas City Star.
- ^ "Holy Cross Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2024.