Darius Hagans is going to take more risks to increase his chances to make the team

Published August 16th, 1:50 EDT
by Bo Marchionte

Latrobe, PA – Anyone who knows me knows that I love preseason football. It’s reality television at its finest. This is a real-life game show where the contestants (players) are vying for their professional lives. While the starters sit on the sidelines and await the regular season the players entering and exiting the line-ups are at a crossroads.

Steelers running back Darius Hagans is currently a guest on this reality show and is trying his best to impress the coaching staff in Pittsburgh. He finally had his first taste of an NFL game last week when the Steelers visited Tampa Bay and Hagans got his first carries against the Buccaneers. Hagans carried the football five times for 15-yards in the Steelers first preseason game. His lone target resulted in a catch for one yard.

“Awe man it was great,” Hagans said of suiting up for the first time for an NFL game. “To come from DII and actually get a chance to put on an NFL jersey and have people back home watch me in an NFL game was a great experience.”

After the game Hagans’ phone was flooded with support from family and friends eager to see him continue his path towards making it in the NFL. The first person he responded to of course was his mother (Adrian Hagans) who was sending pictures from the TV to his phone. Obviously, a very proud moment seeing her son doing what he loves at the highest level.

“She is definitely supportive and just tells me she is proud of me,” Hagans said.

Pittsburgh hosts the Buffalo Bills this Saturday and Hagans will be itching to provide more razzle dazzle to his game film. The realization of making the 53-man roster for Hagans currently is a stretch. However, with a couple solid outings in the final two preseason games he has the skill set to get put on the practice squad.

“I really want to do a lot more with my opportunities,” Hagans said of the upcoming games. “Be more explosive and continue to show my skill set. I feel like I’m going to take more risks next week.”

Behind the scenes, Hagans is immersed with support. Another example of passing the torch if you will, is Jaylen Warren providing the knowledge he learned from Najee Harris on undrafted rookie running back Darius Hagans. The former HBCU ball carrier out of Virginia State, Hagans, is being helped along the way by his teammates.

“For the undrafted dude and seeing him in my spot,” Warren said of Hagans. “He doesn’t know really. So, I’m there and kind of help guide him.”

Warren was in the same boat last season. An undrafted free agent like Hagans, it was Harris who provided the lending hand of trying to better the running back room with an unselfish focus on making the unit better overall. The second year running back went as far as providing a chiropractor for Hagans.

“Actually, that is who has really taken me under their wing really,” Hagans said regarding Warren. “He is making sure I’m straight after meetings and stuff. We will sit down and go over some plays. He actually got me some chiropractic work last night. Just on him. He has really been trying to uplift me and helps me throughout the process.

“Him (Najee) and Jaylen (Warren) have been really good resources for me. They got the experience and just trying to uplift me and make sure I’m getting everything down and getting acclimated to the program.”

Hagans has had his highs and lows. That is part of being a rookie in training camp. During backs-on-backers he got the best of Mark Robinson who is considered a tenaciously wicked individual. The Steelers found out that Hagans 6-foot and 210-pound frame can handle pass protection by not shying away from contact.

On the other hand, he was hit behind the line of scrimmage and fumbled the football. A horrific set of circumstances when you’re an undrafted rookie trying to make the squad and the ball is put on the ground.

That particular day, Hagans had the last carry in practice and ripped off a hard-nosed run and trotted all the way into the end zone. It felt from the sidelines his anguish and frustration of the fumble was packed into the carry he ran with a vengeance. Harris ran down to the field after the carry and provided Hagans with encouragement.

“The linebacker hit me when I got the ball,” Hagans said. “That’s the best description I was fine after but just an inconvenient play.

“Exactly, it was a good finish for me. Najee (Harris) was just kind of up lifting me. Telling me not to let stuff get in my head throughout practice. It’s a good way to finish practice and that’s the type of stuff the coaches are looking for and he was just trying to uplift me about it.”

That’s the comradery that exists amongst the running backs, it’s a close-knit unit. Harris is the undisputed leader and provides the blueprint on how the group should go about their business. Hagans is one of the beneficiaries of Harris’s way of doing business.

“I feel like I’m getting a lot of good advice and coaching from Coach Faulk (Eddie Faulkner),” Hagans. “Getting acclimated to the guys and more reps.”

Hagans has two games remaining to make a memorable impression.

Photo Credit/Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com