Sun Devils
His physicality showed right away but few could have imagined the impact the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder would have. Hatch ended up earning first-team AllPac 12 honors for his work on special teams, a facet of the game that isn’t fully appreciated by casual football fans.
He played 201 snaps on special teams – the 18th-highest total in the conference – participating on kickoff and punt coverage, kickoff and punt returns as well as on several two-point conversion attempts.
When the team gathered for a team meeting before departing for El Paso, coach Herm Edwards announced Hatch had been awarded a scholarship, which drew a rousing ovation from his teammates.
“I always thought it might happen but I was surprised it happened then,” Hatch said. “When I first came here we talked about that possibility. I just wanted to go out and work hard and show that I deserve one.”
Hatch’s unselfishness was also evident late in the season with a move to fullback where he is holding down a similar role to the one Nick Ralston did a year ago. Hatch first started working at the position the week of the Oregon State game and saw action there the last two.
To say that he has embraced the role would be putting it mildly.
The Sun Devils wrapped up their first Sun Bowl practice Friday afternoon at an El Paso area district stadium with a 20-minute weight lifting session in one end zone. Hatch finished his reps and came off wearing a black cap with white lettering “Make fullbacks great again,” which he has been wearing around Tempe the last few weeks as well.
“This experience has been even better than what I imagined,” Hatch said. “These coaches are all just phenomenal and this is a great team to be around. I want to do whatever I can to help.”
Hatch is the second player elevated to scholarship status, the first being sophomore kicker Cristian Zendejas who was awarded one early in the fall.
Robertson enjoying experience
This is a second bowl game for most of the ASU sophomores. The exception to that is linebacker Merlin Robertson, who did not make the postseason trip with the Sun Devils last year to the Las Vegas Bowl because of family obligations.
He is happy to have the chance this time around.
“It’s a good experience just to be part
After wrapping up practice on Friday the Sun Devils and the opposing Florida State Seminoles toured Fort Bliss, the Army base located in Central El Paso which serves as the home to the 1st Armored Division.
It encompasses more than 1.12 million acres of land in New Mexico and Texas.
Coach Edwards appreciates such ventures because he grew up in a military family.
“I like those opportunities. They mean a lot to me because of how I was raised. It’s good that our players are exposed to these things,” he said
Both teams had arrival festivities on Thursday.
Later both went to an outing at Top Golf where standouts included Hatch and senior tight end Tommy Hudson.