Botetourt People: LBHS offensive lineman Jesse Hanson heads to VA Tech

December 18, 2018 Cathy Benson

Jesse Hanson signs a letter of intent on Dec. 19 and begins as a Tech student in January.

Among the last things Cavalier football standout Jesse Hanson will do in high school is officially sign to play football with the Virginia Tech Hokies. Highly recruited by many Division 1 schools including UVA and Clemson, Hanson chose the Hokies last year. He now makes it official on Wed. Dec. 19 in a signing of intent ceremony. After a few weeks into 2019, Jesse will enroll in mid-January as a Tech student in Blacksburg.

A four-year starter at Lord Botetourt, he is 6’5 and weighs 300 pounds.” He is all muscle and strength.”I am going hunting, work on conditioning and then start on my studies at Virginia Tech.” He said. Hanson kept a 4.0 GPA in the midst of his high school career as well and will be a mid-semester LBHS graduate as of Dec. 20.

Hanson will be an undeclared Business major at the Pamplin School of Business. He said, “I will be getting an athletic scholarship over my 4 years at Tech.”

He started at Offensive Tackle for 4 years at Lord Botetourt. This year he played offense and defense at LBHS on their way to the state semi-finals.“ I liked playing defense o.k. I scored my first TD this year,” he said with a chuckle. Hanson made 27 tackles for losses on defense. He finished second team all defense this year on the All State Div. 3 Team.

Statistics in offense are measured a bit differently. Over his career he had 400 knock downs for his side of the field and no sack was committed on his side on the LBHS QB. This year 3 of the LB lineman made the All State Team including Hanson on First Team. It was a true sign why the running game at Lord Botetourt was so spectacular with people like Hunter Rice and Evan Eller taking off for long touchdown runs. Plus all of the long passes committed for long yardage and TDs by many including Jake Dewease were a testament to an offensive line often like steel!

Tech football coaches, including head coach Coach Justin Fuente, came to the Hanson house for dinner recently. “My Mom fixed lots of good comfort foods.They signed my wall at the house, too.” Truly a talented player, he comes from an exceptional and close Christian family led by the Lord through his parents Paul and Renee Hanson.

Hanson has a sense of humor as well. One night on the Cavalier sidelines right before Halloween, he tapped this reporter on my shoulder. I looked at him and his mouth piece looked like a Vampire—a scary sight! He startled me and we both laughed.

Good luck to Jesse Hanson on his next four years at VirginiaTech where they “invent the future” and Tech remains “home” for years after graduation. In his future in football, may he stay healthy and continue his success started at Lord Botetourt High School for many, many years to come.