'It’s incredible': Holy Cross guard C.J. Hanson is selected by KC in 7th round; Jalen Coker signs free agent deal with Carolina

During the pre-NFL Draft process, former Holy Cross star guard C.J. Hanson had multiple promising and productive conversations with the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

“They were great,” Hanson said Saturday, at the conclusion of the draft, “but you never know until you know.”

Kansas City selected Hanson in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the first HC player drafted in 35 years.

The Chiefs took Hanson with the 28th pick of the seventh round, 248th overall.

“I’m coming to a back-to-back Super Bowl winning team,” Hanson said. “There’s a standard there, and I’m going to have to get to that standard and excel past that standard. I’m looking to come in there and give it my all and make it even better than it already is. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Rob McGovern, in 1989, was the last Holy Cross player drafted, also by the Chiefs, in the 10^th round.

“It’s incredible,” Hanson said. “It’s a blessing to come from a program like that. I got into the program, and it was very different when I left. The progression my brothers and I made on and off the field and our coaches, it’s not just me getting drafted. It’s all the pride behind me. Everyone put pride in me at Holy Cross. It’s truly special. It’s just a great day to be a Crusader.”

Former Holy Cross standout wide receiver Jalen Coker, who also was a draft hopeful, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers. Former HC wide receiver Ayir Asante, who played his fifth year at Wyoming, signed as an UFA with the New York Giants.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Hanson was part of five Patriot League championship teams at HC and, last season, captained one of the top offensive lines in the country.

Hanson started 38 consecutive games at right guard for the Crusaders, and in 2023, Hanson helped the Crusaders rank in the top 10 nationally in rushing offense, total offense and scoring offense.

He was at two-time All-Patriot League first-team selection, and an All-ECAC and All-New England honoree last season.

Hanson, who hails from Wyckoff, New Jersey, gathered with about 120 family and friends Saturday. His mom, Dianne, the Holy Cross Team Mom the last five years whose tailgates at Fitton Field were legendary, put on an amazing spread as usual for the celebration.

“She’s as much in this as I am,” Hanson said. “Kansas City landed another mom. She’ll be there every weekend having fun.”

Hanson played in this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl, and, along with Coker, earned an invitation to the NFL Combine. Hanson and Coker, who trained for the Combine at the same training facility, X3 Performance and Physical Therapy in Fort Myers, Florida, were just the third and fourth Holy Cross players to receive invites to the Combine. Peter Muldoon attended in 1985 and Gordie Lockbaum in 1988.

Hanson ran a 5-second 40 at the Combine, had a 33-foot, 5-inch vertical, and a 9-foot, 7-inch broad jump, and he believes his performance raised his draft stock.

“Tremendously,” Hanson said. “I showcased myself out there. I had incredibly good training leading up to (the Combine). I was confident and comfortable and ready to rip it, so I just went out there and was myself and gave it my all, and it worked out. It was a blessing being there.”

At HC’s Pro Day in March, Hanson set a personal record in the bench press with 25 reps.

Hanson was one of 11 players from an FCS program selected in this year’s draft.

In recent years, former HC stars like Liam Anderson, Benton Whitley and Kalif Raymond joined NFL teams as undrafted free agents.

Coker, HC’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, will be the next to have that opportunity.

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound Coker led FCS with 15 touchdown receptions and ranked fifth in receiving yards (1,040). He set HC career records with 2,715 receiving yards and 31 TD catches.

Coker performed well at the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl, and, at the Combine, led all wide receivers with a 42-foot, 5-inch vertical jump.

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Champion KC Chiefs select Holy Cross guard C.J. Hanson in seventh round