Will Hernandez
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Will Hernandez
| image = 2017-0719-CUSA-WillHernandez.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Hernandez at 2017 C-USA Media Days
| current_team =
| number =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|9|2}}
| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 332
| high_school = Chaparral {{nowrap|(Las Vegas)}}
| college = UTEP (2013–2017)
| draftyear = 2018
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 34
| pastteams =
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2022}}–{{NFL Year|2024}})
| status = Active
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2018)
- Second-team All-American (2017)
- First-team All C-USA (2017)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 97
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 91
| pfr = HernWi00
}}
William Hernandez{{Cite web |title=Will Hernandez Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HernWi00.htm |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} (born September 2, 1995) is an American professional football offensive lineman. He played college football for the UTEP Miners.
Early life
Hernandez was born to a Mexican family in Las Vegas, Nevada.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2022/09/30/arizona-cardinals-international-roots-show-pride-helmet-decals/8130207001/|title=Arizona Cardinals with roots in other countries show pride with helmet decals|first=José M.|last=Romero|website=The Arizona Republic}} He was a four-year letterer and three-year starter at Chaparral High School in Paradise, Nevada, where he played offensive line, defensive end, and middle linebacker. Will actually quit football after his freshman year to instead work as a manager for his father's construction company, but was talked into rejoining the team before his junior year by his head coach, who saw extreme potential in Hernandez.{{cite web |title=How Will Hernandez's High School Coach Helped Guide Him To The NFL |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciatraina/2018/05/19/how-will-hernandezs-high-school-coach-helped-guide-him-to-the-nfl/?sh=4a8c083440df |website=Forbes}} As a senior, Hernandez was an all-Nevada offensive lineman and was an all-conference defensive end; he started all games at right guard, and registered 42 tackles, eight sacks, one interception, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense.{{cite web |title=Will Hernandez |url=https://utepminers.com/sports/football/roster/will-hernandez/250 |website=UTEP}}
A zero-star recruit, Hernandez was recruited very lightly; despite receiving walk-on offers from Nevada, UNLV, and Wyoming, Will accepted an offer from UTEP, the only college to offer him a scholarship.{{cite web |title=Will Hernandez recruiting profile |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Will-Hernandez-46038496/college-189371/ |website=247 Sports}} Outside of football, Hernandez also lettered in track, powerlifting, wrestling, and soccer.
College career
After redshirting his first year at UTEP in 2013, Hernandez was immediately named a starter as a redshirt freshman and would start every game for the rest of his collegiate career; 49 games in total from 2014 to 2017. After the 2016 season, Hernandez was a second-team All-American.{{cite web | last=Bloomquist | first=Bret | title=UTEP lands two on All-America football team | website=El Paso Times | date=2016-12-12 | url=https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/utep/2016/12/12/utep-lands-two-all-america-football-team/95345510/ | access-date=2025-01-01}} Although UTEP went 0-12 and were ranked dead last in the FBS in 2017, Hernandez nonetheless was named to the All-Conference USA offensive line, and was called the "sole bright spot on a very dismal season".{{cite web|url=https://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/conferenceusa.com/documents/2017/12/5/2017_All_Conference_Teams.pdf?id=8758|title=C-USA ANNOUNCES FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS|access-date=2023-08-12|date=2017-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103114054/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/conferenceusa.com/documents/2017/12/5/2017_All_Conference_Teams.pdf?id=8758|archive-date=2020-01-03|url-status=live}} He was also invited to the College Football All-Star Challenge, and also participated in the NFL Combine.{{Cite web|title=Will Hernandez set to compete at All-Star Football Challenge|website=kvia.com |url=http://www.kvia.com/sports/will-hernandez-one-of-24-players-set-to-compete-at-all-star-football-challenge/693555415}}
Professional career
{{external media
| video1 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap3000000926305/Draft-profile-Breaking-down-Player-Will-Hernandez-s-college-highlights NFL Draft Profile: Will Hernandez]
| video2 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap3000000924580/Will-Hernandez-s-full-2018-NFL-Scouting-Combine-workout Will Hernandez's NFL Combine Workout]
| video3 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-combine/0ap3000000918445/UTEP-G-Will-Hernandez-puts-up-37-reps-on-the-bench-press Hernandez puts up 37 reps on bench press]
}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2+3/8
| weight = 327
| dash = 5.15
| ten split = 1.75
| twenty split = 2.96
| shuttle = 4.70
| cone drill = 7.59
| vertical = 24
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 8
| bench = 37
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 9+7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web | url = https://www.nfl.com/prospects/will-hernandez?id=32462018-0002-5598-2873-8029092a1ebf | title = NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Will Hernandez | work = NFL.com | date = March 1, 2018 | access-date = March 1, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1007426&draftyear=2018&genpos=OG | title = Texas-El Paso OG Will Hernandez : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile | work = NFLDraftScout.com | access-date = May 12, 2018}}
}}
=New York Giants=
The New York Giants selected Hernandez in the second round (34th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2018/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} Hernandez was the second guard drafted in 2018, behind Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson (sixth overall).{{cite web|title = Giants select Will Hernandez with No. 34 overall pick |url = https://www.nfl.com/news/giants-select-will-hernandez-with-no-34-overall-pick-0ap3000000929504 |author = Wesseling, Chris |website=NFL.com|date=April 27, 2018}}
{{external media
| video1 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000929506/Justin-Tuck-makes-Giants-pick-trolls-Cowboys-fans Giants draft Hernandez 34th overall]
| video2 =
[http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap3000000929761/Jones-Will-Hernandez-will-be-an-instant-starter-with-Giants Jones: "Hernandez will be an instant starter"]
}}
On May 12, 2018, the Giants signed Hernandez to a four-year, $7.45 million contract that included $5.08 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.49 million.{{cite web |title=Spotrac.com: Will Hernandez contract |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/new-york-giants/will-hernandez-25133/ |access-date=September 17, 2018 |website=Spotrac.com}}
Hernandez was named the Giants starting left guard to start 2018, starting all 16 games and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2018 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2018.htm |access-date=2024-07-28 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On October 29, 2020, Hernandez was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Giants after he tested positive for COVID-19.{{cite web |title=Sources: Giants OL Hernandez has positive test |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30217057/new-york-giants-lineman-hernandez-tests-positive-coronavirus-sources-say |website=ESPN.com |access-date=30 October 2020 |language=en |date=29 October 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Paul |title=Giants' offensive line up in air after Will Hernandez's COVID-19 diagnosis |url=https://nypost.com/2020/10/29/will-hernandezs-covid-19-diagnosis-may-be-shane-lemieuxs-gain/ |website=New York Post |access-date=30 October 2020 |date=30 October 2020}} On November 10, he returned to the active roster.{{cite web |last1=Eisen |first1=Michael |title=Giants waive CB Corey Ballentine; Will Hernandez, Dante Pettis activated |url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-waive-cb-corey-ballentine-will-hernandez-activated-dante-pettis |website=Giants.com |access-date=November 10, 2020 |date=November 10, 2020}} However, despite his healthy return, he remained a backup for the remainder of the season, losing the starting left guard position to rookie Shane Lemieux.{{Cite web|url=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2020/11/16/new-york-giants-shane-lemieux-solid-play-keeps-will-hernandez-on-bench/80091070007/|title = Shane Lemieux's solid play keeps Will Hernandez on the bench|date = November 16, 2020}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On March 28, 2022, the Arizona Cardinals signed Hernandez to a one-year contract.{{cite web|title= Cardinals Sign Will Hernandez For Offensive Line |url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-sign-will-hernandez-for-offensive-line|author=Urban, Darren|website=Arizonacardinals.com|date=March 28, 2022}} In Week 4 game against the Carolina Panthers Hernandez was ejected in the fourth quarter for making contact with an official.{{cite web|title=Will Hernandez Has No Regrets For Helping Teammate Even With Ejection|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/will-hernandez-has-no-regrets-for-helping-teammate-even-with-ejection|author=Urban, Darren|website=azcardinals.com|date=October 5, 2022}} He was placed on injured reserve on November 9 with a pectoral injury.{{cite web|title=Will Hernandez Goes To IR; Cardinals Claim OL Wyatt Davis|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/will-hernandez-goes-to-ir-cardinals-claim-ol-wyatt-davis|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=November 9, 2022}} He was activated on December 17.
On March 15, 2023, Hernandez signed a two-year contract extension with the Cardinals, worth up to $9 million, with $4.5 million fully guaranteed.{{cite web|title=Cardinals Re-Sign Will Hernandez, Ezekiel Turner|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-re-sign-will-hernandez-ezekiel-turner|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=March 15, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Root |first=Jess |date=2023-03-18 |title=Details for OL Will Hernandez' 2-year contract with Cardinals |url=https://cardswire.usatoday.com/2023/03/17/nfl-free-agency-arizona-cardianls-will-hernandez-contract-details/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Cards Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} He maintained his starting right guard job, starting every game in 2023.
Hernandez returned as a starter in 2024, starting each of Arizona's first 5 games before going down with a knee injury in week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. On October 7, 2024, it was announced that the injury was season–ending, and he was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web | last=Urban | first=Darren | title=Cardinals Lose Will Hernandez For Season To Knee Injury | website=Arizona Cardinals| date=2024-10-07 | url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-lose-will-hernandez-to-knee-injury-2024-nick-bosa | access-date=2024-11-05}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://utepathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=250 UTEP Miners bio]
{{Giants2018DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hernandez, Will}}
Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent
Category:Players of American football from Las Vegas
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:UTEP Miners football players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Arizona Cardinals players
Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football