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Overton quarterback Ryder Hagan finds college fit at hometown Tennessee State





Cane Ridge senior Eric Gaston (left) tries to bring down Overton quarterback Ryder Hagan during a game in 2021.Jan Johnson / Main Street Nashville

Cane Ridge senior Eric Gaston (left) tries to bring down Overton quarterback Ryder Hagan during a game in 2021.Jan Johnson / Main Street Nashville

Ryder Hagan’s personality filtered into the picture he used to announce his commitment on Monday morning.

Draped in a leopard skin blanket with a cowboy hat on his head – odes to the Tennessee State Tigers and Nashville, respectively – Hagan broke the news that he’s staying home to play college football for Eddie George.

That’s the type of flair that Overton coach Arcentae Broome has come to expect from his confident quarterback.

“Ryder is Big Shot Bob. He wants to go deep,” Broome said. “We have to tell him, ‘Hey, you have to check it down.’

“He loves the big play. And that’s the kind of quarterback you want. You want a kid who’s willing to take chances every now and then.”

Hagan isn’t the type to overthink things.

Just three days after receiving an offer from TSU, the rising senior knew what he wanted to do. He chose the Tigers over Eastern Kentucky and UT Martin, among others.

 

 

“I love Nashville. It’s my home and where my network exists,” Hagan said. “I also know some of the players (like Dayron Johnson and Devon Starling) from my offseason training with Elite 3. It’s a dream to play football for a school like TSU while still being close to my family. That will make it easy for them to come see me play.”

The ability to make quick decisions has served Hagan well on the field too.

In his first year as the starter following his transfer from Nolensville to Overton, the 6-foot-2 gunslinger threw for 2,974 yards and 30 touchdowns with a 64% completion percentage. That included frequent downfield connections with top receivers Juice Majors and Tyson Edwards.

“As a quarterback, you need confidence,” Hagan said. “I don’t think any coach wants someone to go out there looking scared. They need a confident quarterback that is willing to get the ball to his playmakers and go get a touchdown.”

Hagan also saw a schematic fit at TSU. The Tigers’ offense showed signs of explosiveness in 2021 with senior QB Geremy Hickbottom distributing the ball to Johnson, Starling and tight end Rodell Rahmaan, who earned an NFL minicamp invite from the Seattle Seahawks.

“The offense that TSU runs is similar to what we run at Overton,” Hagan said. “I know the coaches (at TSU) are going to push me to be the best QB that I can be. We talked about that on my visit. I really liked that.”

Overton enjoyed its first winning season since 2016 last year, going 7-5 in Broome’s debut. Hagan and the Bobcats are seeking a better finish after falling to Beech in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

“We know that we can’t let the first-round exit happen again,” Hagan said. “We’re not going to let it happen again. We’re going to work every single day to get better.”

Some of Overton’s fate will hinge on Hagan’s continued development. As a self-proclaimed “pocket-passing, pro-style QB,” Hagan wants to become more of a running threat to help the Bobcats and to prepare for the next level.

“He reads well. He throws well. We’re working on his mobility and running, and he’s gotten very good at that,” Broome said. “He’s getting close to being the complete package.”

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