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Titans fullback is 'a special kid'

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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2009

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Tech's football program doesn't have much of a winning tradition. There have been many more losses than wins since it began in 1969.

Earlier this decade the Titans struggled through a 20-game losing streak.

But things have taken a dramatic turn for the better during the past few seasons, and Titans coach C.C. Culpepper thinks one big reason for that is senior fullback Maurice Hagens.

"We were horrible prior to him coming into this program," said Culpepper, who became the football team's head coach in 2007 after serving as defensive coordinator the previous season. "Since then, he's pretty much carried this program. That's not taking away anything from any of the other seniors or any of the other players, but Maurice is a special kid."

Tampa Bay Tech suffered through consecutive winless seasons in 2005 and 2006, the latter of which was Hagens' freshman season. The Titans have gone 16-7 during the past two years, and that includes a state playoff appearance in 2008, just the third in program history, and the program's first playoff victory, which came against Auburndale last season. Hagens, who is regarded as one of Hillsborough County's top players, has been at the forefront of it all.

"He's a leader. He leads by example," said Tampa Bay Tech junior quarterback Johnathan Williams, one of Hagens' closest friends on the team. "When we're together and we're not doing anything, he always wants to go out there and practice and get better."

Culpepper said Hagens has displayed that tireless work ethic since he joined the Titans program, even when coaches moved him from fullback to the defensive line as a freshman. That position switch lasted just a few weeks, but it had a lasting impression. Hagens said the experience was a wakeup call for what it took to perform at the varsity level and said it helped mold him into the player he is today.

"When I came in, they called me 'Big Baby' because I was real soft and I couldn't take too much contact," Hagens said. "But when I was on the defensive line that really helped me because there is so much contact and you have to be physical down there. That helped me a lot."

Now Hagens prides himself on being a physical runner, and he has proved to be one of the area's best at what he does. After rushing for more than 500 yards as a freshman, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hagens has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. He also has reached double figures in rushing touchdowns each season as well, with 10 in 2007 and 13 in 2008. That production helped lead to a scholarship offer from the University of Miami, and Hagens verbally has pledged to join the Hurricanes program in 2010.

The Titans are hoping 2009 will be a year in which the program takes another big step forward, with Hagens leading the way.

"He is the face of the program," Culpepper said.

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 259-7616.

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