Leonard Hankerson Jr. (born January 30, 1989) is an American football coach and former player who is the wide receivers coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played professional as a wide receiver in the NFL. Hankerson played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Buffalo Bills.
San Francisco 49ers | |||||||||
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Position: | Wide receivers coach | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | January 30, 1989||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) | ||||||||
College: | Miami (FL) (2007–2010) | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 2011 / round: 3 / pick: 79 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
As a player: | |||||||||
As a coach: | |||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
editHankerson attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a junior, he had 28 receptions, 606 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns. In his senior year, he had 39 receptions, 803 receiving yards, and 14 touchdowns.
College career
editAs a true freshman in 2007, Hankerson started two of seven games, and had six receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. As a sophomore in 2008 he started two of eight games, making 11 receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns. As a junior in 2009, he became a full-time starter. He started 12 of 13 games and finished the season with 45 receptions for 801 yards and six touchdowns. His senior year he hauled in 72 catches for 1,156 yard and 13 touchdowns. The 13 touchdowns passed Michael Irvin for the most in a single season by a Hurricane. In the Senior Bowl, Hankerson stood out as the best receiver catching 5 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Professional playing career
editHeight | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
209 lb (95 kg) |
32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m) |
10+5⁄8 in (0.27 m) |
4.43 s | 1.51 s | 2.53 s | 4.21 s | 6.94 s | 36 in (0.91 m) |
9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) |
14 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine[1] |
Washington Redskins
editHankerson was selected by the Washington Redskins in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft.[2] Hankerson made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers. In Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers, he made his first career start.[3] His rookie season was cut short after suffering a subluxation of his right hip and a torn labrum in his second game as a starter against the Miami Dolphins.[4] On November 15, Hankerson was officially placed on injured reserve.
After nearly three months of relying solely on physical therapy, it was confirmed that Hankerson had surgery on his hip on February 21, 2012.[5] Hankerson was fully healed from the surgery and ready by the start of training camp in late July.[6][7] In the preseason, he competed with and lost to Josh Morgan for the starting flanker position.[8] In Week 2 against the St. Louis Rams, he recorded his first career touchdown after catching a 68-yard pass from Robert Griffin III.[9][10] In the Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns, he would score two touchdowns with one of them being a 54-yard touchdown pass while under triple coverage from Kirk Cousins.[11]
In the 2013 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hankerson scored two touchdowns.[12] Originally behind Josh Morgan in the depth chart again, he was later made the second starting wide receiver opposite of Pierre Garçon due to his improved performance.[13][14] The Redskins placed him on injured reserve on November 21, 2013, after he tore his left LCL and ACL in the Week 11 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.[15][16][17]
Having spent all of training camp on the PUP list, it was confirmed that Hankerson would remain by the start of the 2014 season on August 30, 2014.[18] On November 4, the Redskins placed him on the active roster.[19]
Atlanta Falcons
editThe Atlanta Falcons signed Hankerson to a one-year deal on March 11, 2015.[20][21] On December 4, 2015, Hankerson was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve due to his struggles with hamstring injuries.[22] On December 15 he was released from injured reserve, making him a free agent.
New England Patriots
editThe New England Patriots claimed Hankerson off waivers on December 16, 2015.[23] Hankerson played in one game before being waived on December 26.[24]
Buffalo Bills
editThe Buffalo Bills claimed Hankerson off waivers on December 28, 2015.[25]
On March 24, 2016, the Bills re-signed Hankerson on a one-year contract.[26] On August 15, 2016, he was released by the Bills, following a poor showing in the team's first preseason game in which he dropped most of the passes thrown at him.[27]
Coaching career
editUMass
editHankerson joined Mark Whipple's UMass football staff as an offensive graduate assistant in July 2017 and earned a promotion into the role of wide receivers coach for the 2018-19 school year.[28]
Stephen F. Austin State
editHankerson was the outside wide receivers coach for Stephen F. Austin State University from 2019 through 2020.
San Francisco 49ers
editOn February 11, 2021, the San Francisco 49ers announced Hankerson's hiring as their new offensive quality control coach.[29] This reunited him with head coach Kyle Shanahan, who he played under when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator of the Redskins and Falcons. Hankerson was promoted to wide receivers coach in 2022.[30]
Personal life
editHe has four children: Leonard III, Lenaris, Kienarria and Zara and is married to wife Kayla.[31]
References
edit- ^ NFL Combine Profile
- ^ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
- ^ Jones, Mike (November 6, 2011). "Roy Helu, Leonard Hankerson, Maurice Hurt to start for Redskins". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
- ^ Jones, Mike (November 14, 2011). "Rookie WR Leonard Hankerson is lost for the year". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ Jones, Mike (February 26, 2012). "Redskins wide receiver Leonard Hankerson has surgery on hip". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved February 25, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Mike (May 7, 2012). "Leonard Hankerson says his recovery from hip surgery is on schedule". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Mike (July 29, 2012). "Leonard Hankerson returns with confidence". WashingtonPost.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Mike (September 3, 2012). "Redskins depth chart: WR Josh Morgan listed as starter opposite Pierre Garcon". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ^ Harris, Mike (September 16, 2012). "Redskins-Rams: Recap". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (September 17, 2012). "Redskins-Rams: Week 2 Game Notes". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (December 17, 2012). "Victory Monday Stats Pack: Redskins-Browns". Redskins. Archived from the original on December 19, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (September 9, 2013). "Hankerson: 'Everyone Has To Improve'". Redskins.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Jones, Mike (November 11, 2013). "Leonard Hankerson encouraged by recent play". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (November 15, 2013). "Hankerson Seizes Second Receiver Job". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (November 21, 2013). "Redskins IR Hankerson, Promote Lewis". Redskins.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Keim, John (November 20, 2013). "Leonard Hankerson has torn LCL". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (November 20, 2013). "Leonard Hankerson Done For The Season". Redskins.com. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
- ^ Jones, Mike (August 30, 2014). "Redskins finalize 53-man roster". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
- ^ Jones, Mike (November 4, 2014). "Redskins activate Leonard Hankerson and cut Chase Minnifield". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- ^ Alper, Josh (March 11, 2015). "Leonard Hankerson announces he's a Falcon". Pro Football Talk. NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ Adams, Jay (March 11, 2015). "Falcons Add Wide Receiver Hankerson". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ "Atlanta Falcons activate Devin Hester, put Leonard Hankerson on IR". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ "Pats claim WR Leonard Hankerson, OL LaAdrian Waddle". NFL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (December 26, 2015). "Pats waive Hankerson; will he rejoin New England". NFL.com. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
- ^ "Report: Bills claim Hankerson". ProFootballTalk.com. December 28, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
- ^ Dragon, Tyler (March 24, 2016). "Buffalo Bills re-sign wideout Leonard Hankerson". NFL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ Wesseling, Chris. "Bills release Hankerson after mistake-filled game". NFL.com.
- ^ "Leonard Hankerson - Football Coach".
- ^ "49ers Announce Coaching Staff Moves". 49ers.com. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
- ^ "49ers announce changes to Kyle Shanahan's 2022 coaching staff". 49erswebzone.com. March 7, 2022.
- ^ Reynolds, Tim (September 7, 2010). "Hankerson juggles football, school and parenthood at UM". MorningJournal.com. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference
- San Francisco 49ers bio
- Miami Hurricanes bio Archived October 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Leonard Hankerson on Twitter