Fort Towson

Matt Hazel (born January 23, 1992)[1] is an American football wide receiver for the Lazio Ducks of the Italian Football League (IFL). He played college football at Coastal Carolina University. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

High school career

A native of North Augusta, South Carolina, Hazel attended North Augusta High School where he recorded 75 catches, 1,193 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns as a senior while leading North Augusta to the second round of the playoffs.

He was rated a two-star recruit by Rivals.com.[2]

College career

Hazel attended Coastal Carolina University from 2010 to 2013, where he was a member of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team. As a true freshman in 2010, he played 11 games (three starts) and caught 20 balls for 276 yards and five touchdowns. In 2011, he started 9 of 11 games, with 32 catches for 488 yards and six touchdowns. He started all 13 games in 2012 and posted 61 catches for 799 yards and eight touchdowns, and was named a first-team All-Big South selection. He started all 14 games in 2013, producing 70 catches for 990 yards and nine touchdowns, earning first-team All-Big South honors for the second year in a row.

He set several Coastal Carolina career and single-season records. His 183 career receptions, and 70 receptions in 2013, are both CCU records. His 2,553 career receiving yards and 28 career receiving touchdowns are both second in CCU history. He was the third player in school history to participate in the East-West Shrine Game,[3] joining Jerome Simpson and Josh Norman.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 in
(1.85 m)
198 lb
(90 kg)
31+38 in
(0.80 m)
9+18 in
(0.23 m)
4.50 s 4.20 s 7.08 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)
9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
15 reps
All values from NFL Combine[4]

Miami Dolphins

Hazel was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round (190th overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.[5] He was waived by the Dolphins on August 30, 2014 and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[6][7] He was promoted to the active roster on December 20, 2014.[8]

On August 27, 2016, Hazel was waived by the Dolphins.[9]

Buffalo Bills

On September 5, 2016, Hazel was signed to the Buffalo Bills' practice squad.[10] He was released by the team on October 4, 2016.[11]

Washington Redskins

On October 25, 2016, Hazel was signed to the Washington Redskins' practice squad.[12] He signed a futures contract with the Redskins on January 2, 2017.[13]

On September 2, 2017, Hazel was waived by the Redskins.[14]

Indianapolis Colts

Hazel was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on September 3, 2017.[15] He was waived on September 16, 2017 but was re-signed two days later.[16][17] He was waived again on September 25, 2017 and re-signed to the practice squad.[18][19] He was promoted back to the active roster on November 9, 2017.[20] He was waived again on November 28, 2017 and re-signed to the practice squad on December 11.[21][22]

Cleveland Browns

On December 13, 2017, Hazel was signed by the Cleveland Browns off the Colts' practice squad.[23]

On April 16, 2018, Hazel signed his restricted free-agent tender with the Browns for the 2018 season.[24]

Hazel was waived by the Browns on April 30, 2018.[25]

Indianapolis Colts (second stint)

On August 12, 2018, Hazel was signed by the Indianapolis Colts.[26] He was waived/injured on August 23, 2018 and placed on injured reserve.[27] He was released on September 11, 2018.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On May 21, 2019, Hazel signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.

Lazio Ducks

In 2021, Hazel signed with the Lazio Ducks of the Italian Football League in Rome, Italy. Hazel had 67 receptions for 977 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season for the Ducks. Hazel resigned with the Ducks for the 2022 season.

References

  1. ^ "Hazel Rotoworld Profile". rotoworld.com.
  2. ^ Matt Hazel – Yahoo Sports
  3. ^ Coastal Carolina's Matt Hazel Accepts Invitation to East-West Shrine Game
  4. ^ "Matthew Hazel Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  5. ^ Matt Hazel Drafted by Miami Dolphins in Sixth Round
  6. ^ Poupart, Alain (August 30, 2014). "Dolphins Bring Roster Down To 53 Players". MiamiDolphins.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  7. ^ Poupart, Alain (August 31, 2014). "PRESS RELEASE: Dolphins Sign 10 To Practice Squad". MiamiDolphins.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  8. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: Dolphins Make Roster Move". MiamiDolphins.com. December 20, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  9. ^ "Dolphins make roster moves". MiamiDolphins.com. August 27, 2016. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Bills sign four to practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. September 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018.
  11. ^ Brown, Chris (October 4, 2016). "Bills release TE Dray; promote TE Christian from practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  12. ^ "10/25: Redskins Make Roster Move". Redskins.com. October 25, 2016.
  13. ^ "Redskins Sign Nine To Reserve/Future Contracts". Redskins.com. January 2, 2017. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "9/2: Redskins Make Roster Moves". Redskins.com. September 2, 2017. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  15. ^ Walker, Andrew (September 3, 2017). "Colts Claim Five Players Off Waivers". Colts.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  16. ^ Walker, Andrew (September 16, 2017). "Colts Sign Inside Linebacker Darnell Sankey From Practice Squad". Colts.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017.
  17. ^ "Roster Move: Colts Re-Sign WR Matt Hazel; Add To Practice Squad". Colts.com. September 18, 2017. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017.
  18. ^ "Roster Move: Colts Waive Wide Receiver Matt Hazel". Colts.com. September 25, 2017.
  19. ^ "Roster Moves: Colts Sign Three To Practice Squad". Colts.com. September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017.
  20. ^ Walker, Andrew (November 9, 2017). "Colts Place Henry Anderson On IR; Activate Denzelle Good". Colts.com.
  21. ^ "Colts Claim Former Chiefs Tight End Ross Travis". Colts.com. November 28, 2017. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018.
  22. ^ "Colts Sign WR Matt Hazel To Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 11, 2017.
  23. ^ "Browns add DE Lavar Edwards, OL Geoff Gray and WR Matt Hazel". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 13, 2017. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018.
  24. ^ "Browns' Matt Hazel: Signs RFA tender with Browns". CBS sports. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  25. ^ "Browns sign QB Joel Stave". ClevelandBrowns.com. April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018.
  26. ^ "Roster Moves: Colts Sign WR Matt Hazel, RB Branden Oliver; Place WR Deon Cain On IR". Colts.com. August 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Roster Moves: Colts Sign DT Brandon Banks". Colts.com. August 23, 2018.

External links