Madison Hedgecock

Madison Smith Hedgecock (born August 27, 1981) is a former American football player who was a fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons.

He played college football for the University of North Carolina.

Was named county offensive player of year in 1998 and 1999.

Hedgecock was a Super Prep All-American and also earned honorable mention All-American from USA Today and Prep Star All-Region.

In track, he competed in the 200 and 400 meters, hurdles, relays, and shot put and earned All-County and All-Conference honors in the shot put.

Hedgecock attended the University of North Carolina, where he played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team from 2001 to 2004.

A versatile athlete, he played running back, fullback and defensive end while rushing for 130 yards (118 as a senior) and 2 touchdowns while also recording 83 tackles (8.5 for losses) and 1.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his college career.

His best performances running the ball were a 10-carry, 69-yard performance in a 30–24 victory over archrival North Carolina State and a 10-carry, 36-yard game in a 31–28 upset of fourth-ranked Miami, both during his senior year.

He played fullback during redshirt freshman year for Tar Heels.

In his sophomore season (2002) he played in all 12 games—he was the starting fullback in the first six games of the year, but moved to defensive end for the final six contests after injuries depleted the Carolina defensive line and played both positions against Wake Forest.

He had three rushes for 11 yards, caught two passes for 7 yards and made 21 total tackles (11 solo, 10 assists) with 2.5 for losses.

Hedgecock was nicknamed "Big Cat."

"Probably because I used to pace a lot before a game" and "I like seeing people run over people," said Hedgecock, who in college once bent the facemask on his helmet while delivering a ferocious blow.

John Bunting, a former Rams assistant who was Hedgecock's head coach at North Carolina, said the nickname was "Suitable. He practices hard all the time, he runs around the field, he's the first to every drill. He's very energetic, very enthusiastic."

Bunting moved Hedgecock to defensive end after his freshman season, then moved him back to fullback for his final season, as he had promised.

Fullback was Hedgecock's preferred position and Bunting felt that his pro potential was there.

Hedgecock graduated with a communications degree.

His 440-pound bench press, 630-pound back squat, 385-pound power clean are UNC records for a fullback.

He was called the "best blocking back" in the ACC by The Sporting News.

In 2003, as a junior, he played in all 12 games and started 11 at defensive end and made 55 tackles, 40 (solo) and 15 assists, six tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries.

He returned to fullback position for his senior season in 2004 after playing defensive end as sophomore and junior.

He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Hedgecock spent his first two professional seasons with the St. Louis Rams after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

Hedgecock's skills impressed his Rams coaches early.

“He is a big hammer, a big lead blocker,” Martz said.

“He fits into what we do in terms of running the football.

He has nice soft hands and is a good receiver.

These guys are so hard to find.” On July 15, 2005, Hedgecock signed a reported three-year $1.1 million contract.

In what the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called "rapid improvement" he beat out veteran Joey Goodspeed for the fullback position for the Rams.

Goodspeed, who had held the job for two seasons, was released.

About the competition Mike Martz said, "It's a very healthy competition. The fullback position is kind of a lost art. It's just a brutal position. You've got to throw your body in there and just try to slam people. And those two guys, that's what they're about.

"Madison has really stepped up and done a nice job" Martz added.

"In what we do (at) that fullback position is really a tight end or be on the line of scrimmage or we flex him. We do so many things over there that for a rookie to come in and absorb that is pretty difficult to do. He struggled a bit for awhile. I think he really has a better understanding of what we are trying to do right now."

Hedgecock said he had a slight advantage coming in because of the system he was in at North Carolina.

"My college offense the fullback was similar to here. They do a lot of moving and shifting and changing assignments. I guess other offenses might be different. There are a lot of similarities to here."

An All-Pro selection in 2008, Hedgecock earned a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII over the-then undefeated New England Patriots.

Hedgecock attended Ledford Senior High School in Thomasville, North Carolina and was a student and a letterman in football, basketball and track & field.

On the gridiron Hedgecock played fullback, tight end, and linebacker.

He rushed for 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games as senior and rushed for 3,673 yards and 44 touchdowns in his high school career.

He also was a three-time All-County and All-Conference selection (tight end as sophomore and fullback as junior and senior).