TCU safety Hackett, a JT grad, turning pro

Published 3:23 pm Friday, January 9, 2015

TCU safety Chris Hackett will forgo his senior season and will declare for the 2015 NFL Draft, Hackett’s father Michael told CBS 19’s Eric Sullivan on Friday.

The former John Tyler High School standout recently wrapped up his junior season playing for TCU. He was an All-Big 12 first-team selection, leading the Horned Frogs to a co-Big 12 championship and a 12-1 record.

According to his father, Hackett is on his way to Orlando, Florida to train for the draft.

“I would like to thank my family, coaches, teammates, professors and the TCU fans for their unwavering support,” Hackett said in a statement. “Coming to TCU was an incredible opportunity that I will always cherish. I’ve dreamed of playing in the NFL for as long as I can remember and I am ready to move on to the next stage of making that a dream a reality.”

Hackett led the Horned Frogs and the Big 12 in interceptions this season with seven, including an opening-drive pick of Mississippi quarterback Bo Wallace in the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 in Atlanta. TCU defeated the Rebels 42-3. His seven picks placed him fourth in the FBS.

He put together a string of four straight games with an interception, beginning with the Oct. 25 contest against Texas Tech and ending Nov. 15 vs. Kansas.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound safety was fourth on the TCU team in tackles with 75, including a season-high 13 against Oklahoma Oct. 4, and finished second on the team in tackles with 88 his sophomore year at TCU.

“I’d like to personally thank Coach [Gary] Patterson and his entire staff for helping me to grow as a player and a person. My time at TCU was extremely rewarding both on and off the field. I am and will always be a Horned Frog!” Hackett said to finish his statement.