Hatten has a shot at another UI record this weekend

Sep. 22—Idaho's redshirt junior receiver Hayden Hatten is no stranger to making history.

Hatten's stellar 2022 season saw him break the Vandals' single-season (16) and single-game (four) records for touchdown receptions.

The Phoenix native has another opportunity to make history by tying Idaho's career touchdown reception record that has stood for 54 years.

So far during Hatten's five-year tenure as a Vandal, he's reeled in 26 touchdown grabs, one shy of tying the all-time record set by Jerry Hendren (1967-69).

On Saturday, Idaho will be at home for the first time this season against No. 4 Sacramento State, giving Hatten an opportunity to tie the record at a place he considers home.

"I love the Kibbie Dome," Hatten said. "It's a place that I will be able to show my friends and family for the rest of my life. I'm proud to say that I played here. It's a great experience, and I'm really lucky and fortunate to be in the position that I am."

The Vandals' No. 1 receiving option has the university to thank for giving him an opportunity to further his football career coming out of Saguaro High School. But he's been able to garner much more during his time in Moscow than what he's shown on the field. Hatten has earned his bachelor's degree from UI, graduating with cum laude honors in business economics, and is currently working on getting his master's degree.

Idaho has also bonded the Hatten family closer than they've ever been.

Hayden's brother, Hogan, is also a member of the football team, lining up as a long snapper. The pair's cousin, Jack Hatten, is a guard for the Idaho men's basketball team.

The brothers had been bunking together for two years already, so when Jack made his way to Moscow by way of Bakersfield, Calif., he was set to move in.

The trio didn't spend much time together growing up, with Hayden saying they spent maybe 40 days total together before Jack moved in.

"We never really had an opportunity to see each other just because he was busy with sports, and so were we," Hatten said. "That's not a lot of time to spend with him 20 years into my life."

Hayden described his relationship with his cousin as "raw," but once Jack moved in, it was instant chemistry, and because of that, the Hatten family has never been closer.

"We are going on family vacations now," Hatten said. "All three of us have graduated with Idaho degrees, and my parents have Idaho stickers on everything in the world now. We're just so thankful for this university for bringing our families together, and it's truly almost like a dream land kind of story."

Hatten's parents have experienced every step of his college football journey alongside him. The pair have never missed a game, home or away.

"I have the best parents in the world, and I don't take that for granted," Hatten said. "That's one thing in life that you don't get to choose: your parents. I hit the lottery with my parents, and I'm the luckiest kid in the world because of it. ... They've done more for me than I can put into words. Having people like that at your back to support you through things is truly a blessing and something I want to replicate with my kids down the line."

Idaho has given him an opportunity to do things he wasn't able to do in his home state, such as snowboarding.

The Grand Canyon State native got his first taste of snow during his first winter on the Palouse, and from there, he's learned to love it. But like anyone who has dealt with snow for an extended period of time, he has some qualms.

"I love looking at the snow," Hatten said. "But I hate when snow gets into places that it shouldn't, and what I mean by that is that it sticks to my shoes and it gets in my car. ... I have to shovel my front yard. That's something I've never had to do before; I've never had to shovel my front yard."

Hatten did admit that Moscow's cold air is a welcomed feel compared to the dryness in Arizona, which is another benefit to an area he considers home. And while the junior's goal is to go pro, he could see himself residing in the Gem State when his football career is all said and done.

While Hatten owes a lot to the university for his football journey up to this point, he has made a lot happen on his own merit.

For example, Hatten played in just four games during the 2021 season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, which also forced him to miss spring camp. During this time, coach Jason Eck and his staff were taking over the program.

While the eventual All-American received first-team All-Big Sky honors in 2020, Eck and the boys didn't know much about him other than that.

"I'm not saying they weren't fans of me, but I really had to put my head down and block out the noise," Hatten said. "I said, 'I'm going to work hard no matter what.' Cream rises to the top, and if I work hard, everything will work out for me. I'm proud of myself for having had an experience like that."

Hatten finished with 83 receptions for 1,209 receiving yards. Idaho's dynamic receiver gives a lot of credit to his receivers coach, Matt Linehan.

The former Vandal gunslinger first met Hatten when he was a 230-pound freshman as he was training for the XFL.

"I never really thought much of it," Hatten said. "I thought he was good. But when he decided to come back and take on the role of receivers coach, I thought, wow, I kind of know him. We sat down and started talking, and our relationship has just flourished from there."

He credits Linehan for keeping him level-headed on game day, making sure he listens to his body and doesn't overwork himself.

"I love the game, and I never want to come out," Hatten said. "I'm a guy who just wants to be on the field making plays to impact the game. Coach Linehan does a good job of keeping me level-headed and assuring me everything will work out."

Not only has Linehan been able to keep Hatten's head in the game, but they've also built a real relationship.

"Our relationship is truly a special one," Hatten said. "It's my favorite relationship I've ever had with a coach before, and it's something you know; I've said there's a lot of things that this university has done for me, and having a relationship like this with my position coach has truly made me a better receiver and a better player. I will forever look at him and be indebted to him, and I'm happy to be able to call him my friend, hopefully when I'm done, not coach."

Pixley may be contacted at (208) 848-2290, tpixley@lmtribune.com or on Twitter @TreebTalks