Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Hawkins rededicates himself to improved play
8/26/2019 4:00:00 PM | Football
Senior working toward a resurgence in senior campaign
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Anthony Hawkins tested himself.
After sliding down the depth chart his junior season, he wanted to earn his position back on Colorado State's roster, and he targeted the issue.
He could have said it had to do with his torn labrum, but he didn't. He knew it was more than an injury.
"I felt like a little bit of complacency took place. I just focused mostly on my effort, finishing plays and running to the ball," Hawkins said. "That's what I've built myself on this fall camp, and now it's focusing on the little things and mastering my craft and hoping to help my team any way possible."
Hawkins played as a true freshman, but it was at wide receiver. In his first spring camp, he was moved to cornerback, playing in all 13 games and starting nine. As a junior, he played in every game, but only started four.
Even with those starts and the games played, head coach Mike Bobo said Hawkins was missing the finer points, which make a huge difference. Hawkins was undependable on the field because of what was not happening away from the facility. It wasn't that Hawkins was running around and getting into trouble, but he wasn't fully vested as a football player.
"The No. 1 thing for Anthony Hawkins I'd say is maturity," Bobo said. "You'd think a guy would be mature after being here, going into his fourth season, but sometimes it takes guys a little bit longer. Not just maturity on the football field, but maturity in his daily life, being more consistent in those areas.
"I think he's matured, and his head's in the right place. He knew that he had to earn the trust from his coaches and his teammates, and he's done that. Everything we've seen from him has us confident he's going to go out and play to his potential."
His rededication has not gone unnoticed by his teammates, either.
Receiver Warren Jackson took note of Hawkins' improved play, then he found out that's exactly what Hawkins was doing himself.
"It's really a proud moment for me, and I know for a lot of other guys," Jackson said. "Hawk had surgery last year, and he really wasn't able to do much. This offseason, he put up some good numbers -- 40 times, jumps -- he really took it serious. I've seen him taking notes on me. He showed me my own notes on what I'm doing. That's really impressive. He's really studying everything he's doing. He's putting it all out there, giving it all he's got and it's showing up on the field."
Hawkins knew he had to make those types of changes. He had three interceptions as a sophomore starter at cornerback and has registered 48 tackles in his career, experience, if used correctly, can benefit a defensive unit looking to bounce back as a group. Hawkins averaged 21.7 yards as the Rams' primary kick returner, his best effort a 51 yarder at Florida.
So, keeping notes on his teammates was, in his eyes, a step toward being a more mature player, a true student of the game. There isn't a receiver he sees as a corner or a nickel who he doesn't have a file on, a tactic he'll transfer over to future opponents.
He's not just looking for any extra edge he can gain on the field, but those off it to aid the process. He has worked with the top unit in camp, but he's not satisfied, noting other players are making their own push.
"I mean, there's a lot at stake, coming back from a rough season," he said. "We have a lot to prove, and we're coming out with a chip on our shoulder. I'm just trying to prove to the coaches that I can get back healthy, that I can contribute to the team and I can be one of the go-to guys on the team. It's everybody. It's a double-sided thing, proving to the coaches, proving to myself, just proving to everybody as a whole I can be an impact player and not just filling in and taking up space.
"If it's me at the 1 or me at the 3, it's trusting what the team has planned and what the coach has planned and take pride in it."
Bobo has seen this before, even back when he was playing for his dad in high school in Thomasville, Ga. It's played out since, through his playing and coaching days in college, again as a head coach in Fort Collins.
For some players, growth just takes a bit longer.
"There's no question. It's growing up and being mature that realizing talent alone might get you on the field, but it's not going to make you the player that you dreamed to be," Bobo said. "It's the attention to detail in all areas. There's something about being a senior sometimes.
"Certain guys, they don't get it figured out until later, but when they do, they have a special season. Hopefully, Anthony will have that."
After sliding down the depth chart his junior season, he wanted to earn his position back on Colorado State's roster, and he targeted the issue.
He could have said it had to do with his torn labrum, but he didn't. He knew it was more than an injury.
"I felt like a little bit of complacency took place. I just focused mostly on my effort, finishing plays and running to the ball," Hawkins said. "That's what I've built myself on this fall camp, and now it's focusing on the little things and mastering my craft and hoping to help my team any way possible."
Hawkins played as a true freshman, but it was at wide receiver. In his first spring camp, he was moved to cornerback, playing in all 13 games and starting nine. As a junior, he played in every game, but only started four.
Even with those starts and the games played, head coach Mike Bobo said Hawkins was missing the finer points, which make a huge difference. Hawkins was undependable on the field because of what was not happening away from the facility. It wasn't that Hawkins was running around and getting into trouble, but he wasn't fully vested as a football player.
"The No. 1 thing for Anthony Hawkins I'd say is maturity," Bobo said. "You'd think a guy would be mature after being here, going into his fourth season, but sometimes it takes guys a little bit longer. Not just maturity on the football field, but maturity in his daily life, being more consistent in those areas.
"I think he's matured, and his head's in the right place. He knew that he had to earn the trust from his coaches and his teammates, and he's done that. Everything we've seen from him has us confident he's going to go out and play to his potential."
His rededication has not gone unnoticed by his teammates, either.
Receiver Warren Jackson took note of Hawkins' improved play, then he found out that's exactly what Hawkins was doing himself.
"It's really a proud moment for me, and I know for a lot of other guys," Jackson said. "Hawk had surgery last year, and he really wasn't able to do much. This offseason, he put up some good numbers -- 40 times, jumps -- he really took it serious. I've seen him taking notes on me. He showed me my own notes on what I'm doing. That's really impressive. He's really studying everything he's doing. He's putting it all out there, giving it all he's got and it's showing up on the field."
Hawkins knew he had to make those types of changes. He had three interceptions as a sophomore starter at cornerback and has registered 48 tackles in his career, experience, if used correctly, can benefit a defensive unit looking to bounce back as a group. Hawkins averaged 21.7 yards as the Rams' primary kick returner, his best effort a 51 yarder at Florida.
So, keeping notes on his teammates was, in his eyes, a step toward being a more mature player, a true student of the game. There isn't a receiver he sees as a corner or a nickel who he doesn't have a file on, a tactic he'll transfer over to future opponents.
He's not just looking for any extra edge he can gain on the field, but those off it to aid the process. He has worked with the top unit in camp, but he's not satisfied, noting other players are making their own push.
"I mean, there's a lot at stake, coming back from a rough season," he said. "We have a lot to prove, and we're coming out with a chip on our shoulder. I'm just trying to prove to the coaches that I can get back healthy, that I can contribute to the team and I can be one of the go-to guys on the team. It's everybody. It's a double-sided thing, proving to the coaches, proving to myself, just proving to everybody as a whole I can be an impact player and not just filling in and taking up space.
"If it's me at the 1 or me at the 3, it's trusting what the team has planned and what the coach has planned and take pride in it."
Bobo has seen this before, even back when he was playing for his dad in high school in Thomasville, Ga. It's played out since, through his playing and coaching days in college, again as a head coach in Fort Collins.
For some players, growth just takes a bit longer.
"There's no question. It's growing up and being mature that realizing talent alone might get you on the field, but it's not going to make you the player that you dreamed to be," Bobo said. "It's the attention to detail in all areas. There's something about being a senior sometimes.
"Certain guys, they don't get it figured out until later, but when they do, they have a special season. Hopefully, Anthony will have that."
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