Layne Hatcher

The Ball State football team competes against the Miami Redhawks at Scheumann Stadium on November 25, 2023. Photo by Bobby Ellis.

Photo by: Ball State University/Bobby Ellis

Layne Hatcher, Cole Pearce, Jack Sape and Corey Stewart at Eastern

Cole Pearce, Layne Hatcher, Jack Sape and Corey Stewart at Eastern

Position:
Quarterback
Ht./Wt.:
6-0 / 213
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Little Rock, Ark.
Prev School:
Texas State
High School:
Pulaski Academy

Awards and Honors:
2020 Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Conference
2019 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year

Expected to vie for starting QB duties after transferring from Texas State ... 24-year old joins the Cardinals after stints at Texas State, Arkansas State and a redshirt year at Alabama ... three-time invitee to the Manning Passing Academy (2021, 2022, 2023) ... head coach Mike Neu on Hatcher: "He's smart, self-made and self-driven."

PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Threw for over 2,000 yards in each of his past four seasons, all in the Sun Belt Conference: 2,946 as a 2019 freshman at Arkansas State, 2,058 as a sophomore, 2,423 in 2021 and 2,653 with Texas State last year ... ended 2022 ranked 12th among active FBS career leaders with 10,080 career passing yards ... 84 career passing TDs ranked eighth among active FBS career leaders through 2022, though his 35 INTs ranked ninth among active FBS career leaders ... over 44 career games between Texas State and Arkansas State, completed 796 of 1,288 passes, completing 61.8% of his throws ... ranks second in Sun Belt history with 84 career pass TD, and ranks ninth with 10,080 passing yards ... has thrown for 200+ yards in 23 of 44 career games.

2022 at Texas State: Played at Texas State under head coach Jake Spavital after a coaching change at Arkansas State … threw for 2,653 total yards and 19 touchdowns … tallied a season-high 362 yards through the air and four touchdowns against Houston Christian (Sept. 24) … recorded 200+ yards in seven of his 12 games at Texas State.

at Arkansas State/Alabama: Played three seasons at Arkansas State (2019-21) with two under head coach Blake Anderson (2019-20) and the other under head coach Butch Jones (2021) … threw for 7,427 yards and 65 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Red Wolves … ranked third in program history in career passing touchdowns (65), fourth in completion percentage (61.6) and fourth in passing yards (7.427) … career-high 444 passing yards in 2021 at Louisiana-Monroe (Nov. 13) ... career-high five TD passes in 2020 vs. Louisiana-Monroe (Dec. 5) ... tabbed by Lindy's in 2021 as having the "strongest arm in the Sun Belt" ... led the nation in passing yards per completion (17.74) in 2020 while earning All-Sun Belt honorable mention as a sophomore ... 2019 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year while leading the league with 65.8% passing … started the final nine games of his freshman season, including a 34-26 Arkansas State victory over FIU in the Camellia Bowl … redshirted at Alabama for his true freshman season in 2018 as the Crimson Tide beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl before falling to Clemson in the CFP national championship game.

HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner at Pulaski Academy … finished his career as Arkansas high school football's all-time leader in passing yards (15,483) and touchdowns (185) … registered 1,002 career completions and a 152.9 career QBR … also registered 18 career rushing touchdowns … helped guide the Bruins to four state championships … all-state and all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior … named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Offensive Player of the Year, as well as Hootens.com 5A Offensive Player of the Year, and Gatorade Arkansas Football Player of the Year as a senior … also competed in baseball and wrestling at Pulaski Academic … four-time state champion in wrestling and ranked No. 5 in the nation in the sport.

PERSONAL: Son of Lee and Greg Hatcher … has four sisters, Kelsey, Haley, Larkin, and Mattie … all four sisters played collegiate sports, either basketball or soccer … intends to pursue an advanced degree in sports management.