Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The chase for four-star quarterback Justice Hansen (Edmond, Ok. Santa Fe) is down to two former Big 12 rivals as the 6-3, 200-pound quarterback will decide between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies from the winner’s spring game on Saturday.
According to 247Sports.com timeline of events for Hansen, he most recently visited the Aggies on Mar. 19. Prior to that, Hansen took an unofficial visit to the Sooners Oct. 13 last year and attended the Oklahoma junior day Feb. 2 and was offered that same day. The offer from the Sooners came 13 days after the Aggies extended their scholarship to Hansen. So, will Hansen choose his hometown program or the one that showed him the love first?
In comments made to ESPN.com’s Bob Przybylo, Hansen said he’s been told to follow his heart and isn’t getting pulled in one direction and each program has provides a great opportunity to be successful.
“When I think of OU, I think of stability. A winning program. [Bob] Stoops has been there for a long time. With A&M, it’s momentum. There is a lot to like right now with the Aggies and the direction of that program.”
One of the biggest recruiting advantages that the Aggies have over Hansen’s local program is the play of Heisman trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel who spoke with 247Sports No. 8 pro-style quarterback earlier this month.
Nice talking to @jmanziel2 today! Appreciate it man!
— Justice Hansen (@J_Hansen11) April 7, 2013
I expect this season is Manziel’s last at A&M, so a starting position could be his as a true freshman in Kevin Sumlin’s quarterback-friendly offense. Oklahoma has Blake Bell entrenched as their quarterback and the redshirt junior doesn’t look like a candidate to declare for the NFL draft early, so Hansen would have to wait until 2015 to get his opportunity.
If playing time is one of the deciding factors for Hansen, the Aggies should be the favorite to secure his talents on Saturday. My prediction is that he winds up at Texas A&M where he can be mentored by quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital, one of the best quarterback mentors in the country and flourish in Sumlin’s offense like every quarterback has under Sumlin.
I may be wrong about this — it wouldn’t be the first time — but I have a hunch the Aggies pull off another big win over their former Big 12 rivals just as they in the AT&T Cotton Bowl when Manziel amassed more than 500 yards of total offense.
Hansen has exceptional pocket presence and is adept at moving within and around the pocket to elude the rush and buy time for his receivers to get open. He has great command of the huddle and has great intangibles for the position. As a passer, he is as consistent and accurate as any quarterback in this class. He is also a threat to tuck the football and run out of the backfield and has some deceptive speed.
Hansen passed for 3,079 yards on 58% passing with 36 touchdown passes to only nine interceptions. He also rushed for 773 yards on 5.8 yards per carry and 14 more touchdowns last year as a junior.
Patrick’s a college football writer for Rant Sports and radio host on Sportstownchicago.com. Follow him on Twitter and add him to your Google network.
