Hayden preparing to take next step

It was just four years ago that Nick Hayden was terrorizing quarterbacks throughout the Classic Eight Conference. And from time to time, the Arrowhead product would allow his mind to wander.

"Every now and then you'd think about the NFL," said Hayden, who had 21 sacks as a junior and was the state's defensive lineman of the year as a senior. "It's everyone's dream. You never think it's going to happen to you, though."

Oh, it's going to happen all right. And this week Hayden takes the latest step in his journey to the NFL.

Hayden just finished a solid career at the University of Wisconsin, highlighted by a big senior season in which he was an honorable mention all-Big Ten defensive tackle. Now, Hayden is taking his act to the NFL Scouting Combine here in Indianapolis, an event that began Wednesday and runs through Tuesday.

Hayden will arrive Friday and spend the weekend interviewing with NFL teams, as well as being poked and prodded by doctors. Then, Hayden and the rest of the defensive linemen will work out for teams on Monday.

"You're there for a job interview and you . . . do the best you can," the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Hayden said. "I'm looking at it like it's a big competition and I'm there to beat my competition. It's a lot of high energy, but it's nerve wracking at the same time."

In recent seasons, Badgers such as Joe Thomas, Brian Calhoun, Brandon Williams, Erasmus James, Scott Starks, Lee Evans and Al Johnson have all been selected in the first three rounds. Barring anything unforeseen, Wisconsin won't have a player picked that high this year.

Hayden might be the first Badger selected, though. Several early projections have Hayden going in the fourth or fifth round, and with a solid combine, he could jump up. Other UW players at the combine include receiver Paul Hubbard, cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu and kicker Taylor Mehlhaff.

"I kind of like him," one scout said of Hayden on Wednesday. "He's kind of a plugger, but he can get home now and again, too. Probably not an every down guy, but he can help, especially for a team that rotates a lot of guys."

Hayden's career at Wisconsin wasn't always smooth. Hayden enjoyed a strong sophomore season in which he tied for the team lead in sacks with 5 ½ and was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection.

But Hayden got too heavy before his junior year and played that season at 320 pounds. Hayden wasn't as active or productive as his sophomore year, and an angry UW coaching staff cut his playing time.

"I weighed too much and it was bad weight," said Hayden, who arrived at UW weighing 260. "It was definitely my fault. I didn't take care of myself."

Hayden slimmed down to 300 pounds by the start of his senior year and had a big season. Hayden was third on the team in sacks (4 ½), fourth in tackles for loss (8 ½) and won UW's Coaches Appreciation Award. Hayden then built on that with a solid performance at the East-West Shrine game.

"Nick will be the first to tell you, we had a nice meeting in the spring before his senior year," UW coach Bret Bielema said. "No one was very happy with his junior year, but he came back and had a great senior season. He did a great job, bought into the team concept and drove up his value."

Hayden will try to add to his value this week.
Hayden, who finished his UW career with 38 consecutive starts, is considered a "try hard" guy by most scouts. Hayden's athleticism isn't great, but he's always around the ball, has wide shoulders and figures to excel in the weightlifting drills.

"I think I'm ready, physically and mentally," Hayden said of the combine. "I'm treating it like a game. This is all one giant competition. I just have to beat the competition."

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