Jason Hatcher
Encyclopedia
Jason Dewayne Hatcher is an American football
defensive end
for the Dallas Cowboys
in the National Football League
. He played college football
at Grambling State University
, and was drafted
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
.
and was raised in Jena
and attended Jena High School
where he lettered in football
and basketball
. As a senior
, he helped his team to a 10-3 record and earned all-state honors after catching 28 passes for 1,028 yards as a tight end
.
where he majored in physical education
.
As a true freshman, he was ruled academically ineligible due to NCAA
requirements. Then, in 2002, he was granted a medical redshirt after rupturing his right ACL
. In 2003, as a sophomore he started at tight end and caught one pass for 14 yards and a two-point conversion
before being converted to defensive end
midway through the season. After changing positions, he recored 13 tackles, three sacks
and one pass broken up. In 2003, as a junior, he played his first full season at defensive end and finished the year with 33 tackles, 10 for losses and five sacks. As a senior he recorded 65 tackles.
He finished his career with 111 tackles, 31.5 for losses and 18.5 sacks.
by the Dallas Cowboys
.
As a rookie
, Hatcher played in 14 games, missing two with a sprained ankle
. For the season, he recorded 13 tackles, one for a loss and 2.5 sacks. In 2007
, he played in all 16 games and recorded 35 tackles, three for losses and two sacks, while forcing one fumble
. In 2008
, Hatcher recorded 36 tackles, one for a loss, one pass broken up and one sack. In 2009
, he played in all 16 games and recorded 29 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup. In 2010
, he started his first career game and recorded 13 tackles and one sack.
. Charges have since been reduced to aggravated battery.
Hatcher hopes to one day become a head football coach.
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 end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. 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 Grambling State University
Grambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
, and was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
.
Early years
Hatcher was born in Alexandria, LouisianaAlexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
and was raised in Jena
Jena, Louisiana
Jena is a town in and the parish seat of La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,971 at the 2000 census.In September 2006, Jena became the focus of national news stories in the United States for a racial controversy involving its school system and a group of students known...
and attended Jena High School
Jena High School
Jena High School is a secondary school located in Jena, Louisiana, United States. The school, serving grades 9 through 12, is a part of the La Salle Parish School Board...
where he lettered in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. As a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
, he helped his team to a 10-3 record and earned all-state honors after catching 28 passes for 1,028 yards as a tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
.
College career
Hatcher attended Grambling State UniversityGrambling State University
Grambling State University is a historically black , public, coeducational university, located in Grambling, Louisiana. The university is the home of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson and is on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail.-Academics:Grambling State University provides over...
where he majored in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
.
As a true freshman, he was ruled academically ineligible due to NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
requirements. Then, in 2002, he was granted a medical redshirt after rupturing his right ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. In 2003, as a sophomore he started at tight end and caught one pass for 14 yards and a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
before being converted to defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
midway through the season. After changing positions, he recored 13 tackles, three sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
and one pass broken up. In 2003, as a junior, he played his first full season at defensive end and finished the year with 33 tackles, 10 for losses and five sacks. As a senior he recorded 65 tackles.
He finished his career with 111 tackles, 31.5 for losses and 18.5 sacks.
Professional career
Hatcher was selected in the 3rd round (92nd overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
As a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, Hatcher played in 14 games, missing two with a sprained ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
. For the season, he recorded 13 tackles, one for a loss and 2.5 sacks. In 2007
2007 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2007 Dallas Cowboys season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League. The Cowboys finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NFC , and earned a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs...
, he played in all 16 games and recorded 35 tackles, three for losses and two sacks, while forcing one fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
. In 2008
2008 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2008 Dallas Cowboys season was the 49th season for the team in the National Football League. The season was most noted for week 17, when the Cowboys were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles 44–6, their worst loss since the 1985 Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and beat the Cowboys 44–0...
, Hatcher recorded 36 tackles, one for a loss, one pass broken up and one sack. In 2009
2009 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2009 Dallas Cowboys season is the 50th season for the team in the National Football League. It is the team's first season playing at Cowboys Stadium. Their victory over the Oakland Raiders on November 26 extended their Thanksgiving winning streak to four in a row and also ended a three game...
, he played in all 16 games and recorded 29 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup. In 2010
2010 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2010 Dallas Cowboys season is the 51st season for the team in the National Football League, and the second season playing their home games at Cowboys Stadium...
, he started his first career game and recorded 13 tackles and one sack.
Personal life
Hatcher and his wife Natasha have two sons, DiCarlos and Jason, Jr. and one daughter, Tamia. He is a relative of Bryant Purvis, who was facing attempted murder charges as one of the Jena SixJena Six
The Jena Six were six black teenagers convicted in the beating of Justin Barker, a white student at Jena High School in Jena, Louisiana, on December 4, 2006. Barker was injured in the assault by the members of the Jena Six, and received treatment for his injuries at an emergency room...
. Charges have since been reduced to aggravated battery.
Hatcher hopes to one day become a head football coach.