Wake Forest Athletics
Hazen’s Flexibility Transforms Wake Forest Linebacker Position
11/29/2023 11:20:00 AM | Football
“You live to play and you have to be adaptable both on and off the field.” - Dylan Haazen
While technically coming out of College Park (The Woodlands, TX) High School, Wake Forest linebacker Dylan Hazen's family had deep roots in the Carolinas. His parents met in a Clemson University weight room, and nearly their entire extended family lives in the Carolinas, Tim's side of the family living in the Greenville, South Carolina area while Linda resides mostly in Charleston.
Linda was a cheerleader at Clemson, while Tim competed on the club powerlifting team.
The connection to Wake Forest just happened to come to fruition in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic while the Hazens were visiting Greenville for a wedding, so they swung by Winston-Salem to take a look at the campus.
"During COVID, it was hard to make a decision, because I wasn't able to see the schools or meet anyone," Hazen said. "I wanted to be a mechanical engineer. I saw Wake Forest one weekend and we went back to Texas. We drove to Illinois and drove back, and then shortly after that committed to Wake Forest."
It's working out well for both the Demon Deacons and Hazen, as the redshirt sophomore linebacker made a huge impact as the defense made big strides in the second season under defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and linebacker coach Glenn Spencer.
Hazen led the team with 86 tackles, with 8.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a sack while interchanging between playing both the MIKE and the WILL linebacker positions.
"It's just being adaptable," Hazen said. "It's football. You live to play and you have to be adaptable both on and off the field. When one guy goes down, another one has to step up. Personally for me, coach Spencer dual-training me the last two years has allowed me to hop between both positions and allowed for adaptability.
"It's given us flexibility. Being dual-trained helps a lot. Coach Spencer recruits guys he thinks are capable of contributing, so bringing in JR (Jacob Roberts) was crucial. Obviously, unfortunate events have happened, and me and JR have been the starting linebackers."
Entering fall camp, the linebacker room showed promise of having perhaps some of the best depth on the team, until Eldrick Robinson II was lost for the season during a fall practice. Then team captain Chase Jones has yet to see the field this season due to a concussion sustained late in camp.
"We just have a great brotherhood in the linebacker room," Hazen said. "We're so close and know each other like the back of our hand now. We spend so much time together. We're like family. When one person is out, we don't miss a step. We just keep trucking."
The injuries have thrust Hazen, Roberts and Quincy Bryant into larger roles than they expected — including working at both positions for Hazen.
"I started (dual training) last spring, but then backed up Ryan Smenda at first," Hazen explained. "When Quincy (Bryant) got hurt in the fall of 2022, I had to move over to WILL. I just hopped between WILL and MIKE the entire fall of 2022. Then for 2023 I was out for spring ball, unfortunately. Then in the fall I was planning on being a MIKE. Being experienced and knowledgeable in those positions have helped our defense.
"When Chase went down, we lost our starting WILL. That's when the urgency for dual-training ramped up again, but I basically knew everything from two springs before, then I sat in every single meeting in the spring. I told them if they give me 24 hours I would be able to play WILL again like the back of my hand."
There are major differences between playing the two spots, making preparation time and on-the-field adjustments crucial for Hazen.
"Just having to switch the mindsets a little bit," he said. "The MIKE is your inside piece, but when you're the WILL you're the outside piece for most of the puzzles. Just being able to switch your mindset on a dime. My pass drops change and my run fits change completely. I just have to understand that, but my conceptual knowledge of the defense allows me to hop back and forth. I know the front seven, in terms of the run fits and the open gaps."
His growth, effort and adaptability hasn't gone unnoticed by the Wake Forest coaching staff.
"Dylan Hazen has become a really good player and is playing great football," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "He played really well against Clemson. He tackled thick and his fits were really good. On the goal line he jumped over the center. To me, it's always the second-year guys who become good players. Last year was the first time he played, and he did some good things at times. But he's consistent, comfortable and confident, and is playing fast. He's playing both linebacker positions, which isn't easy."
Clawson further explained what 'tackling thick' means.
"You don't want guys diving at knees or making arm tackles," the 10th-year Wake Forest head coach said. "A lot of times, young linebackers will get on edges and get juked. They might make the tackle, but they get dragged for two-or-three yards. When a linebacker makes a downhill fit, you want the form to be fit, drive the guy back, gang tackle it and try to get the ball stripped. Dylan is making very thick, good tackles against excellent running backs."
While the Demon Deacons work toward gaining bowl eligibility for an eighth-straight season, Hazen's growth and the incredible improvement on defense this season provides a hint of the future holds.
"I love it," Hazen said about coming to Wake Forest. "It's one of the best decisions I've made. I've made a lot of connections and built a lot of relationships that have just been incredible. I've learned a lot. I've 100 percent become smarter in the game of football and have become a better person because of coach Clawson's program."
Linda was a cheerleader at Clemson, while Tim competed on the club powerlifting team.
The connection to Wake Forest just happened to come to fruition in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic while the Hazens were visiting Greenville for a wedding, so they swung by Winston-Salem to take a look at the campus.
"During COVID, it was hard to make a decision, because I wasn't able to see the schools or meet anyone," Hazen said. "I wanted to be a mechanical engineer. I saw Wake Forest one weekend and we went back to Texas. We drove to Illinois and drove back, and then shortly after that committed to Wake Forest."
It's working out well for both the Demon Deacons and Hazen, as the redshirt sophomore linebacker made a huge impact as the defense made big strides in the second season under defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and linebacker coach Glenn Spencer.
Hazen led the team with 86 tackles, with 8.5 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries and a sack while interchanging between playing both the MIKE and the WILL linebacker positions.
"It's just being adaptable," Hazen said. "It's football. You live to play and you have to be adaptable both on and off the field. When one guy goes down, another one has to step up. Personally for me, coach Spencer dual-training me the last two years has allowed me to hop between both positions and allowed for adaptability.
"It's given us flexibility. Being dual-trained helps a lot. Coach Spencer recruits guys he thinks are capable of contributing, so bringing in JR (Jacob Roberts) was crucial. Obviously, unfortunate events have happened, and me and JR have been the starting linebackers."
Entering fall camp, the linebacker room showed promise of having perhaps some of the best depth on the team, until Eldrick Robinson II was lost for the season during a fall practice. Then team captain Chase Jones has yet to see the field this season due to a concussion sustained late in camp.
"We just have a great brotherhood in the linebacker room," Hazen said. "We're so close and know each other like the back of our hand now. We spend so much time together. We're like family. When one person is out, we don't miss a step. We just keep trucking."
The injuries have thrust Hazen, Roberts and Quincy Bryant into larger roles than they expected — including working at both positions for Hazen.
"I started (dual training) last spring, but then backed up Ryan Smenda at first," Hazen explained. "When Quincy (Bryant) got hurt in the fall of 2022, I had to move over to WILL. I just hopped between WILL and MIKE the entire fall of 2022. Then for 2023 I was out for spring ball, unfortunately. Then in the fall I was planning on being a MIKE. Being experienced and knowledgeable in those positions have helped our defense.
"When Chase went down, we lost our starting WILL. That's when the urgency for dual-training ramped up again, but I basically knew everything from two springs before, then I sat in every single meeting in the spring. I told them if they give me 24 hours I would be able to play WILL again like the back of my hand."
There are major differences between playing the two spots, making preparation time and on-the-field adjustments crucial for Hazen.
"Just having to switch the mindsets a little bit," he said. "The MIKE is your inside piece, but when you're the WILL you're the outside piece for most of the puzzles. Just being able to switch your mindset on a dime. My pass drops change and my run fits change completely. I just have to understand that, but my conceptual knowledge of the defense allows me to hop back and forth. I know the front seven, in terms of the run fits and the open gaps."
His growth, effort and adaptability hasn't gone unnoticed by the Wake Forest coaching staff.
"Dylan Hazen has become a really good player and is playing great football," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "He played really well against Clemson. He tackled thick and his fits were really good. On the goal line he jumped over the center. To me, it's always the second-year guys who become good players. Last year was the first time he played, and he did some good things at times. But he's consistent, comfortable and confident, and is playing fast. He's playing both linebacker positions, which isn't easy."
Clawson further explained what 'tackling thick' means.
"You don't want guys diving at knees or making arm tackles," the 10th-year Wake Forest head coach said. "A lot of times, young linebackers will get on edges and get juked. They might make the tackle, but they get dragged for two-or-three yards. When a linebacker makes a downhill fit, you want the form to be fit, drive the guy back, gang tackle it and try to get the ball stripped. Dylan is making very thick, good tackles against excellent running backs."
While the Demon Deacons work toward gaining bowl eligibility for an eighth-straight season, Hazen's growth and the incredible improvement on defense this season provides a hint of the future holds.
"I love it," Hazen said about coming to Wake Forest. "It's one of the best decisions I've made. I've made a lot of connections and built a lot of relationships that have just been incredible. I've learned a lot. I've 100 percent become smarter in the game of football and have become a better person because of coach Clawson's program."
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