Geoff Hangartner
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Thomas Hangartner (born April 22, 1982 in Houston, Texas
) is an American football
center
for the Carolina Panthers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Panthers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas A&M
.
Hangartner has also played for the Buffalo Bills
.
in New Braunfels, Texas
and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he helped lead his team to two state playoff appearances, and as a senior, was a first-team All-District choice and a second-team All-State selection.
.
by the Panthers. He reportedly scored 47 (out of a possible 50) on the Wonderlic Personnel Test
administered during the 2005 NFL Combine
. Although he spent the entire 2005 season
backing up Jeff Mitchell
appearing sparingly on special teams, and as a reserve on the offensive line, he took over the starting position in the 2006 NFL season
after starter Justin Hartwig
went down with an injured groin muscle.
on February 28, 2009, to a four-year contract worth about $10 million. He became their starting center, replacing the tandem of Melvin Fowler
and Duke Preston
. That year, he started all 16 games at center for a team with won-lost record of 6-10, most of them between two rookies: left offensive guard Andy Levitre
and right guard Eric Wood
. In 2010, the same trio started up the middle, but the Bills were going downhill at 4-12, scoring only 283 points (17.7 points/game), 28th of 32 teams in the NFL. In 2011, the Bills opted for youth, replacing Hangartner with Wood. Hangartner was released on September 3, 2011.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Panthers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
.
Hangartner has also played for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Hangartner attended New Braunfels High SchoolNew Braunfels High School
New Braunfels High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in New Braunfels, Texas that was established in 1845. Up until 2008, New Braunfels was one of the largest, 4A, high schools in Texas...
in New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he helped lead his team to two state playoff appearances, and as a senior, was a first-team All-District choice and a second-team All-State selection.
College career
Hangartner started 36 consecutive games at center and offensive lineman for Texas A&M. As a senior in 2004, Hangartner moved from center to tackle, where he started all 12 contests. He was also a first-team All-Big 12 choice and was selected to play in the Hula BowlHula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
.
Carolina Panthers
Hangartner was selected in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
by the Panthers. He reportedly scored 47 (out of a possible 50) on the Wonderlic Personnel Test
Wonderlic Test
The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. The test was developed by industrial psychologist Eldon F. Wonderlic...
administered during the 2005 NFL Combine
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. Although he spent the entire 2005 season
2005 Carolina Panthers season
-Regular season:-Postseason:-Wild Card playoffs:The Panthers forced five turnovers, limited the Giants to only 109 yards of total offense, and became the first club to shut out a home playoff team since the Los Angeles Rams shut out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1980 NFC Championship Game...
backing up Jeff Mitchell
Jeff Mitchell
Jeffrey Clay "Jeff" Mitchell is a former American college and professional player who was a center in the National Football League for nine seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
appearing sparingly on special teams, and as a reserve on the offensive line, he took over the starting position in the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
after starter Justin Hartwig
Justin Hartwig
Justin Hartwig is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
went down with an injured groin muscle.
Buffalo Bills
Hangartner was signed by the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on February 28, 2009, to a four-year contract worth about $10 million. He became their starting center, replacing the tandem of Melvin Fowler
Melvin Fowler
Melvin Thaddeus Fowler, Jr. is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
and Duke Preston
Duke Preston
Raymond Newton "Duke" Preston, III is a former American football center. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois....
. That year, he started all 16 games at center for a team with won-lost record of 6-10, most of them between two rookies: left offensive guard Andy Levitre
Andy Levitre
-Buffalo Bills:Levitre was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 51st pick overall in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, and was the first college guard drafted. He is the sixth selection from Oregon State in Bills history, the first since Keith Ellison in 2006...
and right guard Eric Wood
Eric Wood
-Buffalo Bills:Wood was selected with the 28th pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Counted on to start at right guard, Wood joined a completely retooled offensive line that was expected to feature two rookie starters—him, and second round pick Andy Levitre at left guard—and no players...
. In 2010, the same trio started up the middle, but the Bills were going downhill at 4-12, scoring only 283 points (17.7 points/game), 28th of 32 teams in the NFL. In 2011, the Bills opted for youth, replacing Hangartner with Wood. Hangartner was released on September 3, 2011.