Braden Hansen: 5 Things You Need to Know About the BYU Guard

Brigham Young's Braden Hansen is an offensive lineman prospect heading into the NFL draft. Hansen is a versatile guard who will look to have his name called by Saturday afternoon.

Teams will be impressed by Hansen's maturity and ability to play on either side of the offensive line. He has played both guard positions and center during his time with the Cougars.

Hansen was a four-year starter at BYU, making it conceivable he could make an impact in his rookie season, despite being a late-round pick. Normally, offensive linemen taken in later rounds are selected for developmental purposes. Hansen could potentially be the exception to this rule.

Experience and awareness are qualities that scouts covet this time of year. Hansen is exceptionally equipped with these attributes, which makes him an intriguing prospect.

Background

Hometown: Sandy, Utah

High School: Alta High School

Major: Business

Year: Senior

Hansen was a two-way player in high school. As a junior he recorded 12 sacks playing along the defensive line. He was also a Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American at Alta High School.

Statistics

2009: Played left guard and started in all 13 games.

2010: Played left guard and started in all 13 games.

2011: Played right guard and started all 13 games.

2012: Started 10 games. Missed 3 contests due to a groin injury.

Hansen was an All-MWC honorable mention following his sophomore season. During his junior year, BYU allowed just 17 sacks all season.

As a senior, Hansen was named to the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Watch List. BYU rushed for over 150 yards per game during his final year.

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 6'6''

Weight: 307 lbs.

Arm Length: 31 1/2''

Hands: 10 1/8''

Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 5.69 seconds

Bench Press: 27 reps

Vertical Jump: 25 inches

Broad Jump: 8' 03''

20-yard shuttle: 5.00 seconds

3-cone drill: 8.07 seconds

Hansen was not a participant at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. While all eyes were certainly on Ezekiel Ansah on BYU's pro day, Hansen attempted to make a name for himself. He struggled with his mobility during the workout, but he came away with the most bench press reps of any BYU player.

Interesting Facts

Hansen served a two-year Mormon mission in Philadelphia before ever stepping on the field as a Cougar, according to his player profile. He set out on his mission following his freshman year at BYU, which was a redshirt season for him.

Hansen's brothers, Chase and Brock played football at BYU as well. Chase was a linebacker for the Cougars while Brock played tight end.

Hansen married his high school sweetheart Lyndsey following his mission in Philadelphia. They have a young daughter together, named Elle. According to BYU's official website, both Braden and Lyndsey are family-oriented.

Observations

There are mixed reviews regarding Hansen's chances of being drafted this week.

NFL.com lauds Hansen for his size and length. They offer a player-comparison to Joe Reitz for Hansen and believe he could be a late-round pick on Saturday.

ESPN.com ranks BYU's guard as the 23rd overall player at his position. According to their scouts, Hansen is adept at locating his assignments and has exceptional reaction skills when dealing with pressure.

CBSSports.com lists Hansen as the 26th best guard in the draft. He is projected to be an undrafted free agent, according to their analysis.