Versatile Hansen relishes plugging holes for Niceville

NICEVILLE – If one were to poll members of the Niceville football team about Tanner Hansen the response would be unanimous.

“He’s just an unselfish player,” senior running back Roy Finch said. “He does whatever the coaches ask him to do. We just thank him for it because he’s been playing lights out.”

Hansen, a senior place-kicker and safety for the unbeaten Eagles (10-0) entered the season set on establishing himself as a weapon at wide receiver alongside reigning Daily News All-Area selection and boys’ Athlete of the Year, Kody Williams. After moving out to California for his junior year, Hansen’s return to Niceville appeared to be the start of a something special as he worked his way into that starting receiver role he had so hoped for during summer workouts.

“I had to work my way up,” Hansen recalled.

Not long after, however, an injury to then-starting safety Kyle Kennedy derailed those plans.

“Coach (John Hicks) came up to me the next day and said I might have to move to safety,” Hansen said.

Hicks called Hansen’s willingness to put the team’s goals before his own personal hopes a testament to the type of individual he has become this year.

“We felt like we needed some help at defensive back,” Hicks said. “He was one of our best receivers and he said ‘I’ll move over there and play corner if you need me to.’ I said, ‘Well, we need you to.’

“That’s what he’s been all year,” Hicks said. “He’ll do whatever you need. He’s just had a tremendous attitude.”

That attitude has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“He wanted to play wide receiver but he sacrificed his favorite position to do what was best for the team,” Finch said.

For Hansen, the position switch was not as difficult as one may think. Having lined up at corner as a freshman and grown used to the contact that comes with run-blocking, Hansen admitted to relishing the opportunity to play the role of the hunter rather than that of the hunted.

“I was happy actually because I knew I would be able to play more and hit people,” Hansen said. “I just decided that (the move) was fine because I’d get to go to defense and hit people.”