Case Hatch, Arizona State Football News: Draft Scout Player News

08/09/22 - FB Case Hatch, rSr/2023, Arizona State

Arizona State fullback Case Hatch prides himself on making the plays that don't show up in a box score. Look no further than the Sun Devils' 41-14 win over Southern Utah in the season opener last year. Hatch's name doesn't appear anywhere. He didn't score a touchdown, didn't record a catch and didn't rush for even a yard. But yet his fingerprints were all over that victory. How so? Well, Hatch had the key block on each of ASU's six touchdown plays, five of those rushing scores. The solidly-built 6-foot-1, 230-pounder has embraced that position since he moved there after starting his ASU career as a walk-on linebacker. Oftentimes the fullback plays in anonymity. He might only be noticed if he were to miss a block. He's not going to rack up gaudy offensive numbers and he won't have those dazzling highlight reel runs that make the late-night sports news shows but that suits him just fine.

Hatch says the position is one in which he can use his intensity and experience on the defensive side of the ball to his advantage. "It's never about me. Being a fullback is the perfect role for me. It fits me perfectly. I'm able to hit guys as hard as I possibly can every play which is awesome. Now instead of tackling the guy with the ball and hitting him hard, I'm opening up the hole for a teammate." Like many of his teammates, Hatch has aspirations of playing the game at the next level. He thought about declaring for the draft after last season, one of the factors being his age. At 24, he's already older than most college seniors, with a two-year LDS mission he served after finishing up at Perry High School the factor there. He opted to return to ASU for several reasons. He's only got one full year playing the position under his belt and there are many skills to hone, most notably route running and pass catching. - Arizonasports.com

rSr/2023