Hayden Hatten scored the first touchdown of the Hula bowl, leading Team Kai to a 24-17 win over Team Aina, Saturday at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.
Hatten played on Team Kai, with six other receivers, including five from power-five schools.
“The Hula Bowl was a great opportunity for me to prove myself against high caliber talent and perform in front of NFL Scouts,” Hatten said. “It was really fun getting to meet guys from different schools as well and build relationships that will go beyond the Hula Bowl. As a proud Vandal Alum, I was honored to represent the University of Idaho and give the people of Moscow one more week of football.”
Hatten had two catches, on just two targets, including the first touchdown of the game, a four-yard contested catch in the corner of the end zone to give Kai a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter.
In the third quarter, he caught a short pass over the middle and carried several defenders down field for a 27-yard gain.
He ended the game with two catches for 31 yards and a touchdown on just two targets, but the game was the culmination of a week’s worth of work in front of scouts from the NFL and CFL while preparing for the game. The opportunity to work with a veteran coaching staff is something that Hatten can lean on during his preparation for the draft. He had the chance to work with wide receiver coach Larry Kirksey who has nearly 50 years of experience coaching in the power-five and the NFL.
“I learned a lot from coach Kirksey,” Hatten said. “He is a veteran coach who has worked with numerous NFL Hall of Fame guys. Learning from a coach like that is a special thing.”
Kirksey saw a player who has the skillset and the work ethic to earn a shot in the NFL.
“My first impression of Hayden is that he is going to work his butt off,” Kirksey said. “He understands how to play the position and his preparation put him in a position to compete, but when the lights came on, he made plays and those are going to be the guys who are going to be successful. He caught two balls, but they were very important plays that helped us win that game. He stacked up very well with those other guys on the roster. I think he is a guy who will get a chance in the NFL.
Hatten is the Idaho record holder in career touchdown receptions, single-season touchdown receptions and single-game touchdown receptions, among other Top-10 appearances in the Idaho record book.
He is preparing for the NFL draft, which will take place April 25-27.
