Prospect Spotlight: Deylin Hasert – Marshall (2022)

Marshall’s [player_tooltip player_id="49820" first="Deylin" last="Hasert"] – like many high school athletes – has been dreaming of playing college football since he was young. Unlike many high school athletes, he will be getting the opportunity to play in a Power Five program. To make his decision, Hasert – again, unlike most high school kids – unplugged and stopped looking at social media and temporarily stopped talking to coaches. "The recruiting process was something I dreamed about since I was young," Hastert said. "It was a good experience. Coming down to my final decision was tough. I took a couple of weeks to think about it. The last week, I put down my phone, didn’t go on social media or anything like that, and didn’t talk to any coaches. Then it became clear to me what school I want to commit to." Before he could commit to anyone, he had to put up a solid 2020 season. It was a season in which the Tigers finished with a 5-2 record. "The season ended the way we wanted to with a win over Jordan," Hasert said. "The season went well." As a man in the trenches, Hasert was in the middle of everything. "On offense, we were a run dominate team – dive, counter, option. That showed last season. On defense, our front seven held their own." Although he had a successful season, Hasert was hoping for better. He did, however, see improvement. "I didn’t get to play as many games as I wanted to with a little bit of an injury," the soon-to-be senior said. "The games I did get to play, I improved a ton from sophomore year to junior year." Although he plays both ways, Hasert is primarily an offensive player. "I played left tackle this year. I am long and can move well. I can get out in space, get to the second level, and can pull. I use my explosiveness and power to finish blocks." Once the 2021 season starts, the 6’5" 290-pound athlete will be a three-year starter. "As a freshman, I played right tackle. As sophomore. I played right guard, and as a senior, I am going to play left guard." Playing more than one position on the offensive line is almost a requirement in Marshall’s offense. "In our system, we move guys around all the time," Hasert told prepredzonemn.com. "Most of the guys learn all the positions, so it is easy for our guys to pick up on stuff because usually, they have been learning every position since they were freshmen." Hasert started both ways as a junior. "(On defense) my coach likes to say I have a lot of rocks in my pocket. I am one of those guys who take up double teams and keep the linebackers clean. I am a role player (on defense) and do what my team needs from me. This year, I will be playing strong side defensive tackle." Back on offense, in one area specifically, Hasert didn’t like what he saw on his junior film. "I have been working on my pass blocking. I didn’t think my pass blocking skills showed in my junior film, so I have been doing a lot of drills that I learned from guys in front of me. I have gotten a lot of pass blocking reps already this offseason. In the running game, I have been working on taking better angles when going after linebackers – that was a problem I had last year." The future Division I football player trains in two different facilities. "I was lifting with the team and at a training facility here in Marshall. We do a lot of bench, clean and squat lifts. At the training facility, I do more offensive lineman-specific stuff – working on footwork, my punch, stuff like that." Hasert had multiple DI offers. Although he was considering Minnesota and Iowa, the clear choice for Hasert was Iowa State. "(Iowa State head coach Matt) Campbell is one of the best coaches in college football – along with the offensive line coach – Coach (Jeff) Meyers. Coach Meyers is one of the best people I have talked to in the recruiting process. Iowa State has a lot of resources I can take advantage of; also, Ames, Iowa, is not a big city. It is like Marshall – just a little bigger. I like the small-town feel." All the schools saw him as an offensive player. Another reason Hasert picked the Cyclone program as he felt the coaching staff also saw him as a person. "Iowa State liked my personality, where I come from, and who I am as a person. A lot of the other schools seemed to like me just as a football player." With his media blackout over, as a person and a football player, Hasert is ready to lead the Tigers one more year before making his way south and into Big Twelve play.