#31 Jared Hawkins Season 2007-08

2009
Hawkins experienced a disappointing fifth season, all due to the lingering effects of a foot injury dating back to the closing games of 2008 season… After missing spring drills and must of preseason rehabbing a foot fracture, Hawkins was able to play in just three games, earning starts at tailback against Rice and Ole Miss… Finished year with 130 yards on 27 carries, and added three receptions for 13 yards… Had 61 yards vs. Rice and 54 yards against Ole Miss… Ended career with 1,289 rushing yards and seven touchdowns… Despite injury, Hawkins served as outstanding mentor to freshman backs Warren Norman and Zac Stacy… Served on team[apos]s leadership council.

2008
Enjoyed his finest season in first year as starting running back… Started 10 of 12 games, missing the season finale at Wake Forest with a foot injury… Finished season with single-season career high 593 rushing yards, tops on the team, and four TDs… Averaged 4.3 yards per carry, with longest rush of 40 yards coming against Ole Miss… Had eight games of 45 or more rushing yards, topped by career high of 107 yards against Rice… Also added 16 receptions for 121 yards and a TD… Played through pain in bowl victory, starting game on injured foot that required offseason surgery… Opened season with 59-yard, 1-TD effort in win at Miami (Ohio), then came back with 84 yards in physical performance against South Carolina… After Rice effort, came back with another strong contribution at Ole Miss – 72 rushing yards, 9-yard TD reception… Played well in late-season victory at Kentucky, rushing for 84 yards and a TD while catching four passes for 49 yards… Earned or shared team Offensive Player of the Week honors after South Carolina, Rice and Kentucky performances.

2007
Continued to show tough, inside-the-tackle rushing style as redshirt sophomore… Played in 10 of 12 games, missing the Tennessee and Wake Forest games after suffering concussion against Kentucky… Did not earn a start, but platooned with both Cassen Jackson-Garrison and Jeff Jennings in one-back set… Topped the Commodores for second straight year with 4.4-yard rushing average… Finished season fourth on team with 267 rushing yards on just 60 carries… Also caught seven passes for 73 yards as a receiver out of the backfield… Played well in Commodore win over Miami (Ohio), posting a career-high 10 rushing attempts for 61 yards… Had 41 rushing yards on just six carries at Auburn… Showed versatility at Florida, rushing for 34 yards and catching three passes for 25 yards… Performance vs. Gators also included season-long 26-yard carry… Effective versus Kentucky prior to injury, rushing for 50 yards on seven carries… Also one of team[apos]s top players on coverage units… Credited with eight tackles on special teams… Shared team[apos]s Specialist of the Week honors after performances against Auburn and Georgia.

2006
Played every game as redshirt sophomore, competing as the No. 2 tailback to Cassen Jackson-Garrison… Demonstrated excellent running style with unusual ability to set up offensive line blocks… Ended season third on squad with 298 rushing yards, averaging a team-high 6.9 yards per carry… Burst onto scene by gaining 76 yards on three carries against Arkansas, including season long rush of 41 yards… Also had a 35-yard carry against Florida… Gained 54 yards and scored first career touchdown in win over Tennessee State, then produced two scores in victory over Temple… Contributed seven tackles and a fumble recovery on special team coverage units

2005
Redshirted as freshman… Named team[apos]s Offensive Scout of the Week after Arkansas and Kentucky games.

High School
Two-year starter at tailback in one of Texas[apos] most competitive AAAAA conferences… Senior captain for BearKats… Earned three varsity letters… Despite missing three games during senior season, rushed for 991 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 6.4 per carry… Also caught 12 receptions for 150 yards… Third Team All-State and First Team All-District as senior… Rushed for 1,116 yards and 13 touchdowns as junior… 3,400 students… Second Team All-District selection as junior… Also three-year letterwinner as track sprinter, with 100-meter personal best of 10.81… Ran on school[apos]s record- setting 800-meter relay foursome.

Personal
Jared Jeffery Hawkins… Son of Jeff and Carole Hawkins… One of three siblings… Will finish undergraduate degree in Human and Organizational Development in spring of 2010… Mom is a teacher; dad is manager with large engineering/ construction firm… Selected to ‘Who[apos]s Who Among High School Students… Prep teammate, Mark Ortmann, played for Michigan.

Klein Head Coach Stan Labay
‘Jared posted some outstanding statistics in one of this state[apos]s most competitive districts. He is a superb athlete, with real good quickness. ‘Jared has two characteristics that every good back needs – the speed to run away from people and the elusiveness to make people miss. He has the strong legs you[apos]re looking for in a tailback and also possesses the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.’