Byron Nelson's Nolan Hawkins Is a Two-Way Threat Turning Heads Nationally

Few players in the DFW area enter their junior season carrying the kind of momentum Nolan Hawkins has built. The Byron Nelson wide receiver and safety turned in one of the more eye-catching sophomore campaigns in the region, racking up over 1,400 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on offense while also contributing on the defensive side with an interception and a tackle for loss.

At 6-foot and nearly 200 pounds, Hawkins has the frame college programs covet at safety — size that allows him to match up physically against bigger receivers while his background as a pass-catcher gives him a natural feel for route recognition. That combination drew significant attention at the Dallas Open this past spring, where his performance elevated his national recruiting profile considerably. He has since accumulated more than 13 college offers, a number expected to climb as the season approaches.

Texas Tech holds an early edge in his recruitment. Hawkins is a Red Raider legacy — his father played linebacker and running back in Lubbock — and that connection has kept Tech at the front of a growing list of suitors. His ranking has already jumped following his sophomore showing, and opposing coordinators will face a genuine dilemma trying to account for him on both sides of the ball.

Byron Nelson's Bobcats are building something in Roanoke, and Hawkins figures to be the centerpiece of a defense with serious playoff aspirations in the upcoming season.