Anttaj Hawthorne
Encyclopedia
Anttaj Hawthorne is an American football
defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers
of Arena Football 1. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Wisconsin
.
in Hamden, Connecticut
, his hometown. He played on the varsity football team all four years of his High School career and was a member of the 2000 New Haven Register All-State football team. He got a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. Anttaj participated in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl
game on December 30, 2000.
for four years. He was a team leader and a standout player. Originally a Nose-tackle in his freshman year, later moved to left tackle where he started 41 consecutive games. Earned third team All-American honors during his senior year and was also named All-Big Ten Conference three times, including a first team selection as a junior, and a consensus selection as a senior. His senior year he was named team captain and later received the team's Jay Seiler Coaches Appreciation Award. He finished his college career with a total of 201 tackles, 42 of which for a loss, 12 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Currently 6th place on Wisconsin–Madison's all time list with 42 tackles for a loss.
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He spent most of the 2005 season on the Raiders practice squad before finally being signed to the active roster on December 2. He was active for two games his first season, registering two assists in the Raiders regular season finale against the Giants.
In March 2006, he was allocated by the Raiders to the Frankfurt Galaxy
of the NFL Europe
, where he helped the team win their fourth World Bowl
.
Hawthorne appeared in all 16 games for the Raiders in 2006, recording 13 tackles. He was waived by the team on September 1, 2007.
of the Arena Football League in 2008, recording nine tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery during his rookie season.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive lineman for the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
of Arena Football 1. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
.
Early years
Hawthorne attended Hamden High SchoolHamden High School
Hamden High School is a four year high school for grades 9 through 12. It is located at 2040 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, Connecticut. It is part of the Hamden Public School System and is the only public high school within the town of Hamden....
in Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
, his hometown. He played on the varsity football team all four years of his High School career and was a member of the 2000 New Haven Register All-State football team. He got a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. Anttaj participated in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
game on December 30, 2000.
College career
Hawthorne starred at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
for four years. He was a team leader and a standout player. Originally a Nose-tackle in his freshman year, later moved to left tackle where he started 41 consecutive games. Earned third team All-American honors during his senior year and was also named All-Big Ten Conference three times, including a first team selection as a junior, and a consensus selection as a senior. His senior year he was named team captain and later received the team's Jay Seiler Coaches Appreciation Award. He finished his college career with a total of 201 tackles, 42 of which for a loss, 12 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. Currently 6th place on Wisconsin–Madison's all time list with 42 tackles for a loss.
Oakland Raiders
Hawthorne drafted by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He spent most of the 2005 season on the Raiders practice squad before finally being signed to the active roster on December 2. He was active for two games his first season, registering two assists in the Raiders regular season finale against the Giants.
In March 2006, he was allocated by the Raiders to the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
of the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
, where he helped the team win their fourth World Bowl
World Bowl
The World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
.
Hawthorne appeared in all 16 games for the Raiders in 2006, recording 13 tackles. He was waived by the team on September 1, 2007.
Arizona Rattlers
Hawthorne signed with the Arizona RattlersArizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
of the Arena Football League in 2008, recording nine tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery during his rookie season.