Holy Cross teammates C.J. Hanson and Jalen Coker were in the same place during the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl when they made history together. They became the first Holy Cross players since the 1980s to be invited to the NFL Combine.
Hanson and Coker eye history-making moments again this month.
Holy Cross has not had an NFL Draft pick since the draft dropped to seven rounds in 1994. The last selection for the Crusaders was linebacker Rob McGovern, taken in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft. Hanson and Coker both look to change that this year.
Coker, a 6-foot-1 and 208-pound wide receiver, is ranked the No. 181 overall prospect by Draft Scout with a 5th-6th-round projection. Hanson has a 6th-round projection. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder is ranked the No. 214 overall prospect.
The two helped put Holy Cross football on the national FCS map, going 10-3 in 2021, 12-1 in 2022, and 7-4 last season.
Coker led the FCS in regular-season touchdown catches in 2023 with 15 while his 1,040 receiving yards ranked fifth. His 2,715 career receiving yards and 31 touchdown receptions are the most in school history. The three-time All-Patriot League selection was also a multi-time All-American.
“Coming in as a freshman, just how they accepted me,” Coker told HERO Sports at the NFL Combine about his development at Holy Cross. “It wasn’t really a physical standpoint, they just respected me as a player. They believed in me. That was something I really gravitated towards. And that’s something that gave me the ability to be the player I am now.”
Hanson finished his Holy Cross career with 38 consecutive starts at right guard. He was a two-time All-Patriot League First Team selection with 2023 All-American nods.
“It’s a blessing to be here coming from Holy Cross,” Hanson told HERO Sports at the NFL Combine. “There’s such a great pride behind the football program there. The alumni, the coaching staff, I mean, I couldn’t have played football at a better place. I truly fit in perfectly. The team, everything about it was just perfect for me. Coach [Bob] Chesney is one heck of a coach. The players he brought in around us were incredible. It was such a blessing to be a part of that program.”
As is the case with many FCS prospects, the two have been climbing the draft boards since the pre-draft process began in January. Both were big winners at the combine.
Hanson ranked in the Top 7 out of about 50 offensive linemen in the three events he took part in. His 5-second 40 ranked 6th, Hanson’s 33.5-inch vertical was 7th, and his 9’7’’ broad jump ranked 4th. Hanson’s athleticism score ranked No. 14 among offensive guards in Indianapolis.
“I feel like I’m coming in trying to impress, trying to make a name for myself,” Coker said. “Try and get a couple of oohs, a couple of ahhs. And then hopefully get my name called next month.”
He certainly drew that reaction during his testing.
Coker’s 42.5-inch vertical jump tied for the best among all players at the 2024 combine. His 10’8″ broad jump ranked No. 9 among WRs there. That explosiveness along with his ball-tracking and catch radius make him an attractive draft prospect. Coker made defensive backs look downright silly at times in college going up and getting jump balls.
Hanson is described as a technician with great technique, body control, and footwork. He was a force in the run game as Holy Cross ranked No. 3 in FCS rushing yards per game (264.2).
“It was incredible,” Hanson told HERO Sports about when he and Coker got their NFL Combine invites. “I was sitting down and he was walking in and I was like, ‘Jalen, I got in,’ and then he threw his hands up and said he got in. I immediately jumped up and hugged him. It was an incredible moment for both of us because we’re the first people since Gordie Lockbaum in 1988, which, putting your name with someone like that, Gordie Lockbaum, is incredible … So it’s an incredible, incredible honor.”
If draft projections are correct, Hanson and Coker will have more incredible honors coming later this month.
