Chris Hawkins is the truth. If you don't believe it, you can watch him lockdown receivers and breakup passes with his thumb in a cast. Better yet, take a close look at Hawkins as he explodes through his hips, in and out of a smooth backpedal. The 2013 USC commit is just as advertised.
Hawkins was the DB MVP at the 2012 LA Nike Sparq Camp and hasn't stopped grinding since. At the conclusion of the Nike Sparq Camp, Hawkins cemented his decision to become a member of the USC Trojans in 2013, choosing Southern Cal over Stanford in the end.
Since then, CLA caught up with Hawkins at the 2012 B2G Elite Camp at Cal Lutheran University several weeks ago, where he stayed true to form and manhandled receivers. At one point during the camp, Chris' father Armond Hawkins Sr. could be heard emphatically letting it be known that his son was practically running the routes for the receivers. Anyone paying attention could argue no different.
Hawkins is in a class of his own amongst the nation's 2013 HS cornerback recruits. As an early commit to the Trojans, the Rancho Cucamonga senior can rest easy knowing that larger goals are ahead.
"I just had surgery three weeks ago on my thumb, so I've just been resting it. They had me in a soft cast for two weeks. I've been going to practice and working with the resistance bands. Working with the younger guys to help them get better and that kind of stuff," Hawkins told College Level Athletes.
Chris' goal this season rests largely on his team's quest for a CIF Section title and a trip to the CIF State Championship. With respect to individual goals, he says, "I don't really have any."
"I get to spread the love around when the colleges come. I introduce them to Kameron Powell, Savion Whitney and my brother. It's all a family thing to me. I don't want to be too stingy. All of the other colleges come, but I'm already committed and I'm very solid. So I'll shoot the other colleges to the cats that are younger than me and let them know that these dudes are going to be your offer kids once they hit their senior years. They're the same players as me, maybe even better," said Hawkins.
Rancho Cucamonga is coming together as a team according to Hawkins. "I feel that we're going to be very solid. We have to stay hungry. They got us ranked #5 in the state, but I feel like we're in last place and need to be in first place at the end of the year."
"My brother blew his knee out last year, but he's starting this year at the other corner, and he's a junior. Then there's Savion Whitney, who plays for B2G. Kameron Powell is going to be a sophomore, he's my height and plays safety. He's thicker than me. Savion Whitney and Kameron Powell are athletes and they'll be the ones you're going to want to watch in the future," Hawkins told CLA.
Entering his senior season, the #9 ranked cornerback in the nation according to MaxPreps continues to work on his craft.
"I want to get better on my press game. I went to their practice (USC) yesterday and Coach Sanders and them don't do nothing but press. So I just want to work on my press game. He showed me what kind of press game while I was watching their practice. I'm just going to work on my press game and hopefully if that becomes good I can play as a freshman. And I need to get faster," said the 2013 USC commit.
This season, both Chris Hawkins and fellow USC recruit safety Tahaan Goodman will be playing both ways, which adds instant experience to both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
"I start at corner and Tahaan starts at safety. When we go nickel, Tahaan moves out to linebacker with our other two awesome linebackers, the twins, AJ Latu and Viliami Latu. Savion and Kameron then go to the safeties and my brother and I at the corners," said Hawkins.
As a state-ranked team going into the 2012 California HS football season, there are several spots on the schedule that the senior ballhawk Hawkins is anticipating.
"I'm looking forward to playing Servite after I get off the rehab from my thumb. I'll miss the game at Redlands but I'm looking forward to Servite and Upland. Our toughest games last year were Upland and Corona Centennial. Centennial is in our playoff bracket so hopefully we get to play them. I want a rematch against them (Centennial)," he says.
"The team goal is to get the CIF ring and hopefully the state ring. If we go undefeated and win CIF, we have a chance to go to the State Championship. I don't have any individual goals. I know they're not going to try to pick on me like that."
Whatever the outcome, look forward to seeing Hawkins in a USC uniform in 2013. In the meantime, he'll be making sure all of his boys get their well-deserved recognition.
"I just want to have fun on the field and hopefully my brother and all of the other players get the shine they need to get Division I scholarship offers, or even DII offers."
