AJ Hantak
Long Snapper – Senior
Eastern Illinois
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
AJ Hantak: I am about 6’4, 245 and I haven’t run the forty since high school. I ran a 4.69 back in high school, but I was also 70 pounds lighter then.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
AJ Hantak: I am training at Eastern Illinois. I am currently getting my Master’s degree in sports administration. I am completing my second semester. Right now, I am a GA in the athletics’ department. I got my Bachelor’s degree in marketing and minor in human geography. My strength coaches are helping me out for the Pro Day.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall experience at the FCS Bowl in Daytona Beach, FL.
AJ Hantak: It was an honor to get an invite from any bowl game. I did research on this bowl game. My coach back at home is really good friends with Mike Stock. I was named one of the top 7 prospects to watch at the game. It was shocking at first. I met a lot of cool guys. We competed pretty well, but we didn’t come out on top. The competition level was really good.
Alex Khvatov: What did you take away from that experience?
AJ Hantak: The biggest thing is just to keep working. A lot of teams were watching. There was pressure to perform. They asked you some questions. Another long snapper from that game went to the NFLPA Bowl. A few teams talked to me. They were interested in what I had to say. Coach Stock is a big time special teams’ coach. He gave me some pointers and told me some valuable things. He told that I had a shot. Keep working hard and keep my head up.
Alex Khvatov: What type of feedback did you receive from scouts during that weekend?
AJ Hantak: It was the initial contact. They had me fill out a questionnaire. It was a personality test. They wanted to get to know me as a player and as a person.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall experience at the Tropical Bowl, which is another all-star game that you were invited to?
AJ Hantak: It was higher competition. I was competing against bigger, faster and stronger guys. Coming from a FCS school, you size yourself up. You do a self-assessment against some of those guys. The competition level was incredible. There were a lot of big name guys. You were learning how they approach the game. I picked Coach Stock’s brain again. He definitely provided me with some knowledge.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from you at the Pro Day?
AJ Hantak: My pro day will be on March 13th at Northwestern. We don’t have the facilities at Eastern Illinois to host it. I want to compete and run the forty time. Northwestern has a kicker. I will snap to him. I will go through the workout and focus on accuracy and consistency on every snap. It has to be a consistent workout that hopefully catches the eye of a couple of scouts.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
AJ Hantak: I was about 180 pounds going into my senior year. I played WR and DE for my team. I got a lot of D-II looks. I went to a couple of camps between my junior and senior year. I went to Ball State and LSU camps. I didn’t gain interest. My punter was going to the camp at Eastern Illinois. He asked Coach Babers if he could bring me to snap to him. I got the scholarship. I have been with my punter since middle school.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Eastern Illinois?
AJ Hantak: I am originally from St. Louis. I had a few D-II offers from Missouri schools. Eastern Illinois was the first offer. I went there on my last official visit. I decided to go there.
Alex Khvatov: Describe your overall career.
AJ Hantak: My freshman year, Jimmy (Garappolo) was there, and we were ranked in the Top 25. I was excited to play. I played four games until I got injured. I received a medical year. We made it to the quarterfinals that year. Then we got a new coaching staff. I made 50 starts, which is fourth all-time in school history. I snapped every ball on PAT and punts.
Alex Khvatov: What is your greatest attribute as a player?
AJ Hantak: I am a hard worker. I am very diligent in my work. I try to perfect my craft. Being a long snapper made me a perfectionist. I am also an easy guy to be around. I am laid back.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
AJ Hantak: Right now, I am working on my blocking and speed. I need to get down the field faster. I am also fine-tuning my snaps. I need to make sure that consistency and accuracy is there. The biggest thing is my speed, strength and athleticism. I need to work on that the most.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
AJ Hantak: Playing my 50th game. It was the last game my senior year against Austin Peay. It was also my first game in college against San Diego State in Qualcomm stadium. We came out with a win. We beat them 40-19. The atmosphere was incredible, and we had Coach Babers and Jimmy.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
AJ Hantak: It was the Rams up until they left St. Louis. You still want to root for them now even when they left. I root for good games now. I don’t have a favorite team.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
AJ Hantak: LS Jake McQuaide from the Rams. I had the chance to go to the Rams’ park and did a little snapping session with him. I met the whole special teams’ group. I model my snaps after him.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
AJ Hantak: We got a few guys. Freshman CB Mark Williams and LB Joe Caputo. RB Isaiah Johnson was a Juco transfer. He had 200 plus yards against Murray State. We will have a new OC next year. It will be a new style of play. We had 20 seniors this year, so it will be interesting to see how the team will bounce back.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
AJ Hantak: A lot of things. I like the daily work, and the structure that it brings to my life. Just the lifting, the practices and being around the team. It is a fun time. I like being a part of the group.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
AJ Hantak: I like to hike. They put some trails in town. I love being outside. I enjoy music. I was in a band in high school.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
AJ Hantak: I want to become an athletic director.
Alex Khvatov: Finish the sentence, AJ Hantak is….
AJ Hantak: A genuine person. I am an up front person. I work hard and I won’t cut corners.
