Despite not being drafted, three Vandals have signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents, and a fourth has been invited to a mini-camp. Hours after the final round had concluded, Hayden Hatten, Hogan Hatten, Jermaine Jackson received calls from teams notifying them of their signing as UFDAs.
Turon Ivy Jr., the Vandals’ 6-foot-5 240-pound Tight End also received the call, albeit a bit different from the rest of his teammates, inviting him to the New York Jet’s rookie mini-camp beginning on May 3.
Hayden Hatten won’t be far from his alma mater, as the Seattle Seahawks signed the Vandal career receiving touchdown leader. Hayden has the chance to make around $750,000, according to Pro Football Network, and have a shot at the 53-man roster come Autumn.
Hayden, who has arguably gone down as the greatest Wide-Receiver in Vandal history, told the Argonaut in an interview after his pro-day that “It’s a funny situation with these guys because it’s like you have 32 of the hottest girls walking around,” Hatten said. “They’re like, ‘oh hey, what’s up,’ and you’re just waiting for one of them to pick you up. I’ll take anyone, I don’t care who it is.”
Luckily for him, one of those girls picked him up and is going to show him what the Emerald City has to offer.
Hogan Hatten, the former Vandal long snapper and Hayden Hatten’s brother, received a similar call from the Detroit Lions offering him a spot on their off-season roster. Hogan comes off of a strong season at UI and showcased his athleticism during his pro-day. Hatten is one of just a handful of long snappers that made it onto an NFL roster this offseason.
“Hogan has been really consistent and has established himself as someone who wanted to go pro since the beginning. Now he is following his dreams,” Head Football Coach Jason Eck said in an interview Tuesday.
Jermaine Jackson, the other part of the Vandals receiver tandem also signed as an UDFA with the New Orleans Saints. Jackson would return two special teams touchdowns this season while also bringing in just under 600 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. During this past season Jackson ascertained a Second Team All-Big Sky nomination as well as earning two Big Sky Player of the Week awards.
“He is always laughing, has great energy and is fun to be around,” Eck said. When asked about his favorite memory with Jackson, Eck said, “His two punt-return touchdowns.”
Ivy pulled in 287 yards and two touchdowns this season. Eck said that Ivy’s playmaking ability was his best quality referencing his season long 75-yard touchdown against Nevada.
Nine players took part in the 2024 Vandal Pro Day, and while 4 of them received the news that they would be headed to the next level of football, the other 5 did not. Ricardo Chavez, Tre Thomas, Ben Bertram, Logan Prescott and Tylen Coleman are the other Vandal players that were not given the shot.
Chavez was predicted by many to be a low pick, and at minimum to be a UDFA. His ambidextrous kicking ability was historically unique. However, Kickers and Punters in the NFL have less room for failure than other positions, and the player pool for these positions is much smaller. Combined with the fact that teams don’t usually use draft picks on either Punters or Kickers, Chavez’ NFL future is in a type of limbo that his other teammates’ futures aren’t.
Vandal fans are ecstatic about this turnaround from the football team, and it is clearly paying off for players too. The last Vandal football player to even be drafted was in 2019 under former head coach Paul Petrino, comparing that to the now three, possibly four, players who will make an NFL roster this offseason it is clear that the football program is gaining momentum.
“It is a great example for the Vandal Family to take pride in the University, seeing them (Hayden, Hogan, Jackson, Ivy) in NFL jerseys.” Eck said.
Jack DeWitt can be reached at [email protected]