Brad Hawkins, Ex-Wolverine

Tag: Brad Hawkins


8Jul 2016
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Brad Hawkins, Ex-Wolverine

Brad Hawkins, Jr. (image via Scout)

Camden (NJ) Camden wide receiver Brad Hawkins, Jr. signed with Michigan in February of 2016, but he won’t be playing at Michigan this season. Rumors had been going around for months, but they became official today. Instead of playing at Michigan this year, he will enroll at Suffield Academy in Connecticut for a year of prep school. In case you’re wondering how prep school works, it’s basically an extra year of high school. That means Hawkins will have five years to play four starting in 2017, assuming he fulfills all the necessary requirements for NCAA eligibility.

Hawkins committed to Michigan in June of 2015 over offers from Auburn, Florida, Miami, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, among others. He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #55 wide receiver, and #294 overall. He and teammate/fellow signee Ron Johnson, Jr. were chosen to participate in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. At 6’1″ and 202 lbs. with a slow-ish forty time around a 4.7, many compared him to former Michigan receiver Jason Avant, while others thought he would play safety. I gave him a TTB Rating of 65 by the time the cycle was over (LINK).

Michigan recruited a lot of receivers in 2016, so this departure should not affect the team much on offense. However, the Wolverines are fairly thin at safety, and his presence could have provided depth on that side of the ball.

Michigan is down to 85 scholarships for the 2016 season (LINK), and that includes former walk-ons Kenny Allen and Ryan Glasgow. If no other departures occur, those two guys can get scholarships. Or there would be potential for Michigan to accept a transfer, though I have not heard of any possibilities on that front.

Going forward, it sounds like Hawkins wants to be a Wolverine, and Michigan recruited him pretty hard. It seems like there would still be interest remaining. But in the past, Michigan commits who have taken prep years have generally not ended up playing or contributing much at Michigan. Based on that, I do not expect Hawkins to enroll at Michigan in the future, but obviously that’s just guesswork at this point since nobody really knows.

11Jun 2016
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2016 Season Countdown: #83 Brad Hawkins, Jr.

Ron Johnson, Brad Hawkins 998x

Brad Hawkins, Jr. (right) with Ron Johnson, Jr. (image via Scout)

Name: Brad Hawkins, Jr.
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 202 lbs.
High school: Camden (NJ) Camden
Position: Wide receiver
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Hawkins was a senior in high school (LINK).
Final TTB Rating: 65

Hawkins, a teammate of fellow Michigan signee Ron Johnson, Jr., committed to Michigan in July 2015, choosing the Wolverines over the likes of Auburn, Florida, and Ohio State, among others. It was a very solid offer list for a guy who doesn’t show elite athleticism. Hawkins played some running back, wide receiver, and safety in high school, and he enters college with a chance to play wideout or in the secondary. Michigan is lacking depth at the safety position, but the plan is to start out on offense.

There were rumors floating around that Hawkins might have trouble qualifying to get into Michigan for the fall, so that may be something to watch. If everything works out, though, he will have a tough time working his way up the depth chart this season with everyone returning, including some pretty good starters. There are also four other potential receivers in the freshman class, including early enrollee Ahmir Mitchell. As perhaps the least athletic of the bunch, Hawkins looks to more of a guy who will take a year to redshirt so he can work on all the little things to either become a possession receiver or switch to defense.

Prediction: Redshirt

17Apr 2016
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Poll results: Which 2016 signee will have the best career at wide receiver?

Ahmir Mitchell 817x

Ahmir Mitchell

A few weeks ago, I started a poll asking which class of 2016 signee would end up having the best career at receiver. Here are the results of the poll:

Ahmir Mitchell: 39%
The 6’3″, 205 lb. Mitchell was the only early enrollee of the bunch. While he did show off good size and athleticism this spring, he reportedly continued to have issues catching the ball. Braylon Edwards had the same problem early in his career, so that is not a death knell, but it will be something to watch.

Eddie McDoom: 25%
McDoom was a late pull after he flipped from Oregon to Michigan in January. The Florida native can play outside, in the slot, or as a returner. He was an Under Armour All-American.

Kekoa Crawford: 20%
The U.S. Army All-American played well at the all-star game and is the highest rated player of the bunch. Like McDoom, he could also play inside or outside.

Nate Johnson: 8%
The 5’11”, 175-pounder is a pure slot player who might be able to return punts, too. He’s the lowest rated player of the bunch at #589 overall in the 2016 class.

Chris Evans: 5%
Evans was ranked as a running back by some services, but his future position is unclear. He could play running back, receiver, or cornerback at the next level.

Brad Hawkins, Jr.: 3%
I wouldn’t pick Hawkins, either, but it’s interesting that he got 3% of the vote when Evans, McDoom, and Johnson were all rated lower by the recruiting services. The 6’1″, 202 lb. Hawkins could also end up at safety, which maybe factored into the voting.

What was your reasoning behind your voting?

7Apr 2016
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2016 Recruiting Grade: Wide Receiver

Ahmir Mitchell 817x

Ahmir Mitchell (#2)

Previously: Quarterbacks, Running Backs

WIDE RECEIVERS (5):
Kekoa Crawford – Rancho Santa Margarita (CA) Catholic: 4-star, #19 WR, #119 overall
Brad Hawkins, Jr. – Camden (NJ) Camden: 4-star, #54 WR, #291 overall
Nate Johnson – Thompson’s Station (TN) Independence: 3-star, #94 WR, #589 overall
Eddie McDoom – Winter Garden (FL) West Orange: 3-star, #64 WR, #405 overall
Ahmir Mitchell – Egg Harbor City (NJ) Cedar Creek: 4-star, #9 ATH, #166 overall

Hit the jump for the rundown on Michigan’s 2016 recruiting efforts at the wide receiver position.

read more

12Feb 2016
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Semper Fidelis All American Bowl Participants: Michigan

Mario Ojemudia

The Semper Fidelis All American Bowl was played in January. It was just the fifth year of the game, but here’s the very short list of Michigan commits who have participated in the tradition:

2016
Brad Hawkins, Jr. – WR – Camden, NJ
Khaleke Hudson – S – McKeesport, PA
Ron Johnson, Jr. – DE – Camden, NJ
Tru Wilson – S – Warren, MI

2015
Grant Newsome – OT – Lawrenceville (NJ) School

2014
None

2013
Ross Douglas – CB – Avon (OH) Avon
Maurice Hurst, Jr. – DT – Westwood (MA) Xaverian Brothers

2012
Mario Ojemudia – DE – Farmington Hills (MI) Harrison

*Will participate in the upcoming contest