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Ozzie Hutchinson remained composed, giving little to emotion even when his agent informed him that multiple NFL teams were interested.
“But when I got that call from the offensive line coach,” Hutchinson said, “I was shaking while on the phone. That’s when it started to feel real.”
Because, what for most kids is a farfetched dream, now is close to coming true for the Poughkeepsie native. It was at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when he spoke to Baltimore Ravens assistant coach George Warhop, who made official their offer to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
“I’m excited, ecstatic, grateful,” Hutchinson said, still beaming a day later. “All the good feelings.”
The Spackenkill High School grad completed a stellar career at the University at Albany and, even as a small-school prospect, he impressed professional scouts enough that a Super Bowl-contending team believes in his potential.
Diamond & gold: Maddy Siegrist has "exciting" offseason, leading into third WNBA season
College credit: Ifkovits shines at Tennessee, former local stars earn All-American honors
“It’s jubilation,” his former high school coach Clinton DeSouza said. “He's a really smart, high-character kid who has worked his tall off for this. I’m incredibly proud of him. To see him get this far is amazing.”
It’s also rare. Three former Marist College players have made it to the NFL, but few Dutchess County products have gotten that far. Former New York Giants running back Andre Williams was born in Poughkeepsie but grew up in New Jersey.
DeSouza spoke on Sunday to former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, a one-time teacher who established the football program at Spackenkill in 1973. He, too, was overjoyed with the small Poughkeepsie school helping develop an NFL player.
Hutchinson, 23, anchored the offensive line for the Great Danes and earned all-Coastal Athletic Association honors last fall, despite injuries limiting him to six games.
The offensive tackle travels to Baltimore on May 2 for a physical examination and, if cleared, will sign a contract. He then would participate in a rookie minicamp before organized team activities begin May 11.
“It’ll be crazy just being in the same building with these immensely talented players,” Hutchinson said of being part of an offense with superstars like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. “You watch these guys on TV and now to have a chance to be their teammate. It’ll take a minute to adjust like, ‘OK, these are my peers.’”
Of course, it’s his own talent that created this opportunity for him. Hutchinson demonstrated notable athleticism and footwork at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, along with pass-blocking skills that potentially project to the next level.
The NFL draft concluded Saturday, after 257 players were selected, but teams typically supplement their training camp roster by signing undrafted free agents — players whom they deem worthy of an audition.
“I'm not surprised the scouts were enamored,” said DeSouza, who now is the principal of Hagan Elementary School. “Ozzie’s ability to bend and take on speed rushers, bull rushers and counter different moves is impressive. He didn't commit any penalties in the games I went to, and he didn't allow a sack last season.”
The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins also had interest, Hutchingson said, but the Ravens foresee him remaining at his natural tackle position in the NFL, instead of having to shift inside to offensive guard.
“But if it doesn’t work or I’m a better fit elsewhere, I’ll move to wherever,” he said. “I’m versatile. I got a taste of it all in high school.”
He played tackle, center and guard at Spackenkill, excelling in each role. And, to think, he once had his heart set on the other kind of football.
Hutchinson’s parents are from the Caribbean, and that early influence nudged him toward soccer. Never mind that he was the biggest seventh-grader on the field… by a lot.
“I had to recruit him off the modified soccer team,” DeSouza said with a chuckle. “He was towering over the other kids, and I was like, ‘What’s he doing out there? We need him on the football team.’”
After a bit of cajoling, Hutchinson participated in a winter workout with the football team and quickly “fell in love” with the sport and the camaraderie it produced.
Hugh Hutchinson signed off on his son playing, but it took some work to convince his mom that the sport wasn’t too dangerous. But in time, Ozzie said, Janice Hutchinson has become a football fan.
Ozzie Hutchinson was the figurative torchbearer for Kyiev Bennermon, a former Spackenkill teammate who went on to play for Boston College. DeSouza said he thought Bennermon’s success “was the pinnacle for us,” but another Division 1-caliber lineman was only a year behind.
Hutchinson starred for his high school football and track and field teams, but Albany was one of only a few colleges that offered him a scholarship, he said. He excelled there, though, and after a breakout season in 2022, coach Greg Gattuso told him that he was talented enough to play beyond college.
“It’s unbelievable,” Hutchinson said, reflecting for a moment on his journey here. “From getting into football late and having to learn it in a short time, to being in this position now.”
He twice earned all-conference honors and was a Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American selection last summer, although a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and later a high ankle sprain cost him half the season. He now feels “close to 100%,” he said, but those setbacks “probably took any possibility of getting drafted off the table.”
So, no extravagant party was held, and he spent the weekend at home, watching the draft while communicating with his agent and hoping for a life-changing phone call.
“There’s a ton of pride in that, showing you can get far coming from small schools,” Hutchinson said. “It’s what you make of your opportunities. I’m proud to be a representative of this area and put on for Dutchess County.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NFL: Spackenkill grad Ozzie Hutchinson signs with Baltimore Ravens
Continue reading...
“But when I got that call from the offensive line coach,” Hutchinson said, “I was shaking while on the phone. That’s when it started to feel real.”
Because, what for most kids is a farfetched dream, now is close to coming true for the Poughkeepsie native. It was at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday when he spoke to Baltimore Ravens assistant coach George Warhop, who made official their offer to sign him as an undrafted free agent.
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“I’m excited, ecstatic, grateful,” Hutchinson said, still beaming a day later. “All the good feelings.”
The Spackenkill High School grad completed a stellar career at the University at Albany and, even as a small-school prospect, he impressed professional scouts enough that a Super Bowl-contending team believes in his potential.
Diamond & gold: Maddy Siegrist has "exciting" offseason, leading into third WNBA season
College credit: Ifkovits shines at Tennessee, former local stars earn All-American honors
“It’s jubilation,” his former high school coach Clinton DeSouza said. “He's a really smart, high-character kid who has worked his tall off for this. I’m incredibly proud of him. To see him get this far is amazing.”
It’s also rare. Three former Marist College players have made it to the NFL, but few Dutchess County products have gotten that far. Former New York Giants running back Andre Williams was born in Poughkeepsie but grew up in New Jersey.
DeSouza spoke on Sunday to former Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, a one-time teacher who established the football program at Spackenkill in 1973. He, too, was overjoyed with the small Poughkeepsie school helping develop an NFL player.
You must be registered for see images attach
Hutchinson, 23, anchored the offensive line for the Great Danes and earned all-Coastal Athletic Association honors last fall, despite injuries limiting him to six games.
The offensive tackle travels to Baltimore on May 2 for a physical examination and, if cleared, will sign a contract. He then would participate in a rookie minicamp before organized team activities begin May 11.
“It’ll be crazy just being in the same building with these immensely talented players,” Hutchinson said of being part of an offense with superstars like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. “You watch these guys on TV and now to have a chance to be their teammate. It’ll take a minute to adjust like, ‘OK, these are my peers.’”
Of course, it’s his own talent that created this opportunity for him. Hutchinson demonstrated notable athleticism and footwork at 6-foot-4 and 307 pounds, along with pass-blocking skills that potentially project to the next level.
The NFL draft concluded Saturday, after 257 players were selected, but teams typically supplement their training camp roster by signing undrafted free agents — players whom they deem worthy of an audition.
“I'm not surprised the scouts were enamored,” said DeSouza, who now is the principal of Hagan Elementary School. “Ozzie’s ability to bend and take on speed rushers, bull rushers and counter different moves is impressive. He didn't commit any penalties in the games I went to, and he didn't allow a sack last season.”
You must be registered for see images attach
The Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins also had interest, Hutchingson said, but the Ravens foresee him remaining at his natural tackle position in the NFL, instead of having to shift inside to offensive guard.
“But if it doesn’t work or I’m a better fit elsewhere, I’ll move to wherever,” he said. “I’m versatile. I got a taste of it all in high school.”
He played tackle, center and guard at Spackenkill, excelling in each role. And, to think, he once had his heart set on the other kind of football.
Hutchinson’s parents are from the Caribbean, and that early influence nudged him toward soccer. Never mind that he was the biggest seventh-grader on the field… by a lot.
“I had to recruit him off the modified soccer team,” DeSouza said with a chuckle. “He was towering over the other kids, and I was like, ‘What’s he doing out there? We need him on the football team.’”
After a bit of cajoling, Hutchinson participated in a winter workout with the football team and quickly “fell in love” with the sport and the camaraderie it produced.
Hugh Hutchinson signed off on his son playing, but it took some work to convince his mom that the sport wasn’t too dangerous. But in time, Ozzie said, Janice Hutchinson has become a football fan.
Ozzie Hutchinson was the figurative torchbearer for Kyiev Bennermon, a former Spackenkill teammate who went on to play for Boston College. DeSouza said he thought Bennermon’s success “was the pinnacle for us,” but another Division 1-caliber lineman was only a year behind.
You must be registered for see images attach
Hutchinson starred for his high school football and track and field teams, but Albany was one of only a few colleges that offered him a scholarship, he said. He excelled there, though, and after a breakout season in 2022, coach Greg Gattuso told him that he was talented enough to play beyond college.
“It’s unbelievable,” Hutchinson said, reflecting for a moment on his journey here. “From getting into football late and having to learn it in a short time, to being in this position now.”
He twice earned all-conference honors and was a Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American selection last summer, although a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and later a high ankle sprain cost him half the season. He now feels “close to 100%,” he said, but those setbacks “probably took any possibility of getting drafted off the table.”
So, no extravagant party was held, and he spent the weekend at home, watching the draft while communicating with his agent and hoping for a life-changing phone call.
“There’s a ton of pride in that, showing you can get far coming from small schools,” Hutchinson said. “It’s what you make of your opportunities. I’m proud to be a representative of this area and put on for Dutchess County.”
Stephen Haynes: [email protected]; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NFL: Spackenkill grad Ozzie Hutchinson signs with Baltimore Ravens
Continue reading...
