They call it the rookie wall and it happens to many first-year professionals.
Players are used to a smaller, less intense college schedule and then make the jump to the next level and everything is ramped up a notch.
That is what happened to Columbus Crew SC’s ninth-overall pick Niko Hansen.
“I’ve been going since my college season started in July actually,” the winger said. “I came in and I had to stay fit through the Combine, through January and then straight into preseason.”
Hansen’s rookie season started brightly, coming off the bench in the fourth game of the year against the Portland Timbers and scoring the game-winning goal on the first shot of his professional career.