Tag: Brad Hawkins

2021 Michigan vs. Nebraska Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . A.J. Henning. Henning, who is athletic enough to be Michigan’s punt returner, had 0 offensive touches against Nebraska and has 0 catches for the past three weeks.

Let’s see less of this guy on offense . . . backup offensive guards. Michigan played five offensive guards due to injuries. The offensive guard position has been a relative weakness for Michigan this year, but nobody is good when they get down to guard #5. I’ve seen worse problems at guard #3 or #4, so this isn’t a glaring weakness, but it would be nice to have some consistency and for somebody to step up and take over both guard positions.

Let’s see more of this guy on defense . . . nobody.

Let’s see less of this guy on defense . . . nobody.

Play of the game . . . Brad Hawkins’s forced and recovered fumble against Adrian Martinez. Late in a tied game, Nebraska had the ball and had a chance to drive down the field for a score. Star quarterback Adrian Martinez took off on a rush attempt, and while trying to fight for a first down, he was held up by a couple Michigan defenders. Despite his claims that he was “just standing there” and thought the play was over, he was fighting for extra yardage and driving his feet forward. The whistle wasn’t blown, and Hawkins ripped the ball out. That turned into the game-winning field goal for the Wolverines.

1:45 left in a tie game on the road. There's not a Michigan fan alive who wasn't expecting the worst.

Brad Hawkins makes the play of his career. pic.twitter.com/6tQemb3UFX

— Due# (@JDue51) October 10, 2021

MVP of the game . . . Aidan Hutchinson, Daxton Hill, and Hassan Haskins. Triple H. Hutchinson made 6 tackles and helped keep Martinez in check. Hill made 5 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 1 interception, playing solid in coverage and making that 1 ridiculously nice pick. Meanwhile, Haskins churned out yards with 21 carries for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a highlight-reel hurdle over a defender and tons of yards after contact.

2021 Michigan vs. Rutgers Awards

Let’s see more of this guy on offense . . . A.J. Henning. Henning has been a decent receiver (3 catches, 36 yards) and an outstanding runner (2 rushes, 100 yards, 1 TD) early in the season, but when push came to shove against Rutgers, the coaching staff almost completely ignored him. His only overall touch was on a punt return, and the only attempt to get him the ball on offense was an early fade route on the outside. Michigan needs to make more of a concerted effort to get guys like Henning the ball on the edge.

Hit the jump for more.

2021 Season Countdown: #13 Brad Hawkins

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Name: Brad Hawkins
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 221 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Safety
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #2
Last year: I ranked Hawkins #7 and said he would be a starting safety (LINK). He started all six games and made 39 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 78

There have been some jokes made this off-season about how old Brad Hawkins is. He originally committed in the 2016 class, ended up going to prep school, signed with Michigan again in 2017, and is now going into his fifth college season. For a little perspective, he first signed with Michigan in the same class as Kingston Davis and Rashan Gary. You probably don’t remember the first guy, and the second guy is going into his third NFL season.

As for Hawkins on the field, he has been serviceable. But for a guy who has played in 42 career games and started 17, his total of 4 pass breakups, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles forced, and 0 fumble recoveries is a bit frustrating. I expect safeties to get their hands on the ball more than that. He’s the type of guy who allows a guy to make a catch and is immediately there to tackle, which is fine, but Michigan needs more than “fine.”

Normally I would put a third-year starter higher on this list, but Michigan seems to really like sophomore Makari Paige and redshirt freshman R.J. Moten. Moten in particular seems to be a dark horse candidate to make an impact this season, if practice rumblings are to be trusted. Paige played quite a bit last season but didn’t really make any flash plays. Hawkins should have a solid season and will probably be honorable mention all-conference.

Prediction: Starting safety; 60 tackles

2020 Season Countdown: #7 Brad Hawkins

Name: Brad Hawkins
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 218 lbs.
High school: Suffield (CT) Suffield Academy
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #20
Last year: I ranked Hawkins #33 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He started ten games and made 53 tackles with 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: 78

I typically have an annual “Why did PFF grade that guy so high?” situation, and the 2019 version of that guy was Brad Hawkins. He was First Team All-Big Ten to Pro Football Focus (as the “flex” defender) despite not being on the coaches’ all-conference team and only being named honorable mention by the media. He managed to get his hands on the ball just 1 time, which came in the season opener against Middle Tennessee. After three years in the program, he has just 2 career pass breakups. He is a solid tackler coming up from the third level, but is he much more than that?

Maybe. I sure hope so. Because he’s the only returning starter in the secondary. Michigan lost safety Josh Metellus and cornerback Lavert Hill to graduation/the NFL, and cornerback Ambry Thomas opted out of the 2020 season. Budding star Dax Hill also returns at safety, but Hawkins has to be a steadying force on the back end. Everyone is unproven and almost totally inexperienced behind the starters.

Hawkins has been prone to some coverage busts, and he’s a little grabby for my liking. I think he can be taken advantage of in coverage if opposing offensive lines can hold up long enough to give quarterbacks a chance to throw. But Michigan returns a couple of the top defensive ends in the conference and has a blitz-happy defensive coordinator. Hopefully Hawkins can improve his coverage a little bit while continuing to offer solid run support.

Prediction: Starting strong safety

Hit the jump for some of his 2019 highlights.

2019 PFF All-Big Ten Team

Pro Football Focus named their All-Big Ten team (LINK), and while I won’t go about posting every all-conference team, I wanted to make note of this first teamer:

[Brad] Hawkins was one of the most balanced defenders in the BigTen, with grades hovering around 80.0 in run defense (80.6), tackling (83.9) and coverage (80.3),” they wrote. The longest catch he allowed on the season went for only 25 yards, and it was the only catch of 20-plus yards he allowed all year.”

Hawkins was the culprit on K.J. Hamler’s long touchdown against Penn State. Some people – including former Michigan defensive backs – were going off on Twitter, blaming Don Brown for putting Josh Metellus on Hamler one-on-one.

Hit the jump for more.