NFL Draft

1/28/25

6 min read

Meet Maxen Hook: 2025 Senior Bowl's Most Likely Breakout Star

Sep 17, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) catches a touchdown behind Toledo Rockets safety Maxen Hook (25) during the second half of the NCAA Division I football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 77-21. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Ncaa Football Toledo Rockets At Ohio State Buckeyes

The Senior Bowl is a great opportunity for small-school prospects every year, and this year's breakout star could be Toledo Rockets safety Maxen Hook.

Only a handful of players from the MAC earned invites to the all-star game down in Mobile, but Hook's resume speaks for itself. A four-year starter for the Rockets, Hook fought his way from a 2-star recruit to a future NFL contributor, and has a chance to drastically boost his draft stock against top-tier competition at this year's Senior Bowl.

"What I love about Maxen's game is the intensity and relentless effort he brings every play," Toledo assistant DB coach Tim Bennett told The 33rd Team. "Watching him grow into a leader has been incredible. No matter where he goes, he’ll thrive because he treats people and the game of football with the respect it deserves."

Hook left a lasting impact with Toledo, and it's that legacy, along with some impressive film, that has him looking like a breakout candidate down in Mobile.


Background

There are few MAC players who have stuffed the stat sheet over the last few years quite like Hook.

After multiple All-State selections and an Indiana state championship for New Palestine as a senior, Hook took his talents to Toledo, where he became a starter in 2021. In five total seasons, with four as a starter, he was selected to three straight first-team All-MAC selections, along with a third-team selection in 2021.

Those accolades don't come without impressive numbers, especially over the last three seasons. Since 2022, Hook has generated 259 tackles, 12 pass breakups, seven interceptions, and a pair of forced fumbles.

It's not just the box score stats, but some of the advanced metrics, that stand out for Hook. He had the eight-lowest missed tackle rate (6.4 percent) among safeties in college football who played at least 500 snaps this past season. Pro Football Focus graded Hook as the fifth-highest graded tackle.

Playing against MAC competition can make it hard to stand out, but the consistent production is what helped Hook earn a Senior Bowl invite.

Sep 14, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. (3) is tackled by Toledo Rockets safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (7) and Toledo Rockets safety Maxen Hook (25) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images

The Tape

Playing experience matters for NFL scouts, and Hook's 2,600-plus defensive snaps will give teams a seasoned prospect ready to handle whatever they throw at him.

That playing experience also shows up with Hook's instincts and post-snap recognition. Whether the quarterback drops his eyes to scramble or a pass-catcher is coming across the formation to leak out on a play-action pass, Hook always seems to know where he needs to get to.

Hook's skill set will likely translate to some sort of hybrid slot/box safety role, mostly because of his tackling ability and discipline. Too often defensive backs will overcommit, particularly by turning their shoulders, resulting in missed tackles and whiffs.

Unlike other DBs, Hook consistently keeps his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage when filling against the run, and then comes into tackle attempts with low pad level while wrapping at the hamstring to avoid broken tackle attempts.

The tackling discipline and technique can make him such a reliable last line of defense in one-on-one tackle attempts in open space. At the same time, Hook isn't the type of player to get tackle hunting to pad his stats. He understands the necessity of run fits and outside containment when asked.

This play against Buffalo is a great example of Hook keeping his outside shoulder clean to take on a block. By doing this, it forces the ball carrier to hesitate in a lose-lose situation. Either they cut inside and get cleaned up by the rest of Toledo's defense, or he gets wrapped up by Hook, who is easily able to disengage by taking on half a man.

In pass coverage, Hook's experience and post-snap processing continue to be a huge asset. His ability to quickly react to what he's seeing, then react mid-play, can allow him to come away with huge plays like this red zone interception against Ohio.

Because of his play style and utilization in the slot or in the box, teams tried to attack Hook when he was lined up as a deep safety. This deep crosser in the play below is designed to catch Hook's eyes and get him to bite down.

Instead, Hook understands what the offense is trying to do, and quickly reacts to the post behind him instead of getting caught flat footed.

There are some athletic limitations from Hook. He doesn't have elite top-end play speed, allowing more dangerous deep threat receivers to get behind him in coverage, especially when he's matched up in Man coverage.

There could also be Man coverage limitations when Hook is lined up against NFL-caliber slots and matchup-breaking tight ends. While his technique and discipline are so sound, he has only adequate agility and fluidity to turn and run compared to other DBs in this class.

Some of these limitations could show up in one-on-one drills in the Senior Bowl practices. However, it's worth monitoring how Hook handles the game itself, when he'll have an opportunity to go 100 percent in run support.

Still given his skill set, production, and accolades in the MAC, there's no reason Hook won't be drafted. His early-career role could lie as a very strong asset on special teams, while rotating in on nickel and dime personnel packages.

Given his experience, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Hook quickly climb up an NFL depth chart by putting in the work in training camp while continue developing into a starting-caliber defensive back.


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