FSU Football Transfer Portal News: Gunnar Hansen Commits to #Tribe25
Former Vanderbilt offensive tackle chooses Florida State as his final stop in his collegiate career.
The much-maligned offensive line room at Florida State got a boost today. Former Vanderbilt offensive tackle Gunnar Hansen has elected to transfer to Florida State for his final season of collegiate eligibility. The 6’5 330 pound offensive tackle hails from Boca Raton, Florida and his Alma mater is high school football powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas.
What do Florida State fans need to know about Gunnar Hansen? He’s an experienced and proven offensive tackle who has blocked against some of the best defensive lines in college football. After a redshirt season in 2021, Hansen has started 37 games over the course of three seasons at Vanderbilt.
Hansen is not just experienced, he has also played well against the best competition. Hansen played a significant role in Vanderbilt’s monumental upset against Alabama this season. Alabama’s reputation for elite defensive line recruiting is well known among college football fans. According to PFF, Hansen had the best pass blocking grade against the Crimson Tide with a 71.9 score. He also did not allow a sack or a quarterback hit against Alabama.
Hansen also has his best game of the year against Tennessee which also boasts an elite defensive line. Hansen posted a 76.4 PFF grade overall, with a 72 run blocking grade and a 84.5 pass blocking grade! An 84.5 grade against two edge rushers who are likely going to play on Sundays. I think Florida State fans will take that.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention his intelligence. Vanderbilt is one of the best universities in the nation, and does not make exceptions for athletes in terms of admission standards. The coaching staff at Vanderbilt will not offer a player unless they are fully confident he can perform in the classroom. Hansen has met this standard throughout his time at Vanderbilt.
On a more critical note, Hansen has struggled with consistency at times. He turned in less than stellar outings against South Carolina and Texas. I also believe that he can be more consistent in run blocking as he has consistently graded lower in this area than pass blocking. However, I believe both of these concerns are fixable.
For starters, Hansen is in good hands with his position coach. Coach Hand is well regarded in the coaching industry as a teacher of the offensive line position. I believe that Coach Hand can elevate Hansen’s run blocking while maintaining or even improving his pass blocking.
Hansen is an excellent acquisition for Florida State. Florida State badly needs quality tackles in the offensive line room, and Gunnar Hansen fits the bill. Great job to the offensive staff for securing Hansen’s services!