A linebacker, Hager was named to the 2008 D3football.com All-America second team. The Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year led the conference with a Hobart season record 134 tackles. Hager broke his own game record with 21 tackles at Carnegie Mellon. He is the only Statesman to make 20 or more tackles in a game more than once, logging 20 in the second round of the 2008 NCAA playoffs at top-ranked Mount Union. Hager ranked eighth in the nation with 12.18 tackles per game.
Hager finished his career with 288 tackles (No. 2 on Hobart's all-time list), eight pass break ups, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two blocked kicks (both blocks came during Hobart's 20-17 upset of previously unbeaten and then 17th-ranked Rensselaer in 2008).
