Safety 101: Hawkins impresses in first start

When asking about redshirt sophomore Chris Hawkins around practice, the thing people will hear about most from USC coaches is undoubtedly his football IQ.

“It’s just being in my playbook and studying the opponent,” Hawkins said after Wednesday’s practice.  “I study them nonstop. When I am not in class, I constantly have my iPad open, looking at the other teams’ tendencies on third down, second down and first down so I am able to really know what they’re trying to do.”

In his first game as a starting safety for the Trojan defense, Hawkins collected an interception and fumble recovery in Saturday night’s convincing win against Arkansas State. And while safety was among the potentially problematic positions for USC entering the 2015 season, Hawkins’ recent success in the backfield will surely add depth to coach Keith Heyward’s defensive back unit which also includes freshmen Ykili Ross and Marvell Tell III.

“We have a lot of talent back there with Kevon Seymour and the two returning starters,” Hawkins said. “It’s like I am the new guy. But I have to be the quarterback from the back end and that’s what I am really back there for, helping everybody get lined up and knowing exactly where they should be going.”

Last season, USC’s secondary ranked 118th in pass defense by allowing almost 275 passing yards per game. But, Saturday night, starting safeties Chris Hawkins and John Plattenburg played superbly, combining for 10 tackles, including one for a loss.

“His versatility really helps us,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. “He has a really high football IQ, and he can help a lot of the younger players in the back end.”

Last season, Hawkins saw his first action at USC and played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman, making 32 tackles and one interception. Though he began the season as a starting cornerback, his struggles with adjusting to college play, including penalties, caused him to be replaced by Adoree’ Jackson in the fifth game of the season.

Hawkins’s abilities at safety first caught USC coaches’ eyes during last season’s Holiday Bowl when he briefly lined up at the position because the Trojans were short on bodies. Since then, Hawkins has adapted well to his new position, capitalizing on his vast football intelligence even more.

“Coach asked me to play safety last spring,” Hawkins said. “I learned it fairly easily, I would say. I had some ups and downs here and there, but I’ve been able to really stick to the position to try to learn everything about it. I feel like I am doing very well so far.”

Hawkins has been impressive during the spring and into the fall at the safety position and appears  comfortable playing over the top of the defense.

“He’s a natural safety,” outside linebacker Su’a Cravens said. “He knows how to read plays. He’s really good at understanding route concepts and diagnosing routes.”

Coming to USC, Hawkins was one of the top corners in the 2013 class out of Rancho Cucamonga High School. His 2012 honors included Prep Star All-American Dream Team, ESPN 150, Rivals 100, Orange County Register Fab 15 first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 and All-CIF Inland Division as a senior cornerback.

His USC coaches believe that Hawkins’s famed football IQ can provide a trusted defensive play caller in the backfield.

“Chris is a smart player who studies the game extremely hard,” defensive back coach Keith Heyward said after practice Wednesday. “That is what he does and that is what safeties need to do because they have to make the checks and the calls from the backend. He does a great job at that, and he takes it seriously. He has made the adjustment just fine.”

Hawkins will certainly look to build off of his most successful first game as a Trojan Saturday night against an Idaho team that struggled with the passing game last season. In 2014, Vandal quarterback Matt Linehan had the third most attempts among freshmen behind only Arizona’a Anu Solomon and Miami’s Brad Kaaya. He completed 58.3 percent of his passes and threw 18 interceptions.

When asked about his goals for this upcoming season, Hawkins said he is very focused on doing whatever it takes to help his team win games.

“Just to win the Pac-12 championship,” Hawkins said. “I have no individual goals besides that because those will come naturally if I am doing what I am supposed to be doing.”