AJC > Sports > Football Recruiting > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 08 > Entry

Baldwin’s Corico Hawkins picks Clemson

Baldwin High School’s Corico Hawkins said Friday he will play football at Clemson University next year.

Hawkins, a 6-foot, 228-pound linebacker, is rated high on the AJC’s Georgia 150 list. He received offers from 28 schools, including Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Auburn, Nebraska and Iowa.

“There was a marriage from the beginning,” Baldwin head coach Jesse Hicks said. “He went to the University of Florida numerous times and had a great rapport with Charlie Strong, but Clemson is where his heart was.”

Hicks said Clemson has been recruiting Hawkins for the last several months.

“Some coaches are all business, but Coach [Tommy] Bowden treated him like family,” Hicks said. “It made Corico feel like Clemson was where needed to be. It was a good fit.”

Hicks said Hawkins has excellent football instincts and a strong work ethic, but he will have to continue to improve his game to compete in the ACC.

“He’s a student of the game, but he has to be able to play at that speed in order to take his game to the next level,” he said. “He can do it, though. He has all the intangibles.”

Hawkins, who runs a 4.53-second 40, recorded 101 tackles last year, had one interception and three sacks. He also runs track for the Braves.

Hawkins’ cousin, Leroy Hill, played football for Baldwin and Clemson. Hill was drafted by Seattle in 2005, and he helped lead the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.

Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Tech

Comments

By G8R 8U2

August 8, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

I thought he said the other day that he had picked a school that would be playing for conference titles and a NC. Guess he changed his mind, and decided on a school that hasn’t won the conference in 18 years or a NC in 28. Oh well, best of luck to him.

By G8R 8U2

August 8, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

I thought he said the other day that he had picked a school that would be playing for conference titles and a NC. Guess he changed his mind, and decided on a school that hasn’t won the conference in 18 years or a NC in 28. Oh well, best of luck to him.

By Chili

August 8, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

Awww, G8R, sour grapes don’t taste so good eh.

By Texan Tiger

August 8, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this

hahaha, put us on your schedule and we’ll show you who hasn’t won anything bro…

Corico obviously knows what he’s talking about…

Welcome to the Tigers Hawkins!

By dawgfan

August 8, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

Lets hope when coach Bowden needs to steal his scholarship away to give it to a new recruit as he seems to have a tendency do will he will still treat the young man like “family”. Maybe he will put him up in his home and pay his tuition out of his own pocket.

By gat1ger

August 8, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

dawgfan,

I thought UGA was full at LB, so why would you care?

As for Bowden and is ‘tendency’ to steal scholarships, to whom do you refer? Are you talking about Ray-Ray?

You conveniently forget that Bowden and the Clemson admin went to bat with the NCAA to permit the raising of more than $100K for the McElrathby’s.

In addition to that, he got a degree and a job offer!! It’s not Coach Bowden’s fault that Ray-Ray was nowhere near the depth chart at RB. Tommy once again looked out for Ray-Ray by telling him if he wanted to get to the next level he’d have to do it elsewhere.

I had to work through school (like most people I know) and didn’t get the benefit of a 6-figure fund and a job offer at school once I was done. How ‘bout you?

By dandydawg

August 8, 2008 7:20 PM | Link to this

I live in Milledgeville for seven years and everyone down that way are the BEST of people. Good Luck at Clemson, young man. I think you made a great choice.

Here’s one Dawg fan that wants to see you excel.

By G8R 8U2

August 10, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

No Chili, I’d say the grapes are plenty sweet where I sit. I’d also say his decision to attend a pretender had a lot more to do with the fact that UF has 5 more highly ranked LB’s (4 of them ESPN150 players) than Hawkins on their board, who are giving the Gators serious consideration. Perhaps he just figured he had a better chance of playing at Clemson. Even Auburn has a better shot at conference titles and NC’s than Clemson. I still hope he does well, wherever he ends up on NSD.

By The Champion

August 11, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Congradulations Corico Hawkins! I wish you the best of luck at Clemson! I know you’ll do great! You’re a great person and you have a great heart, we believe you can make it! See you on the big screen…

By The Champion

August 11, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Congradulations Corico Hawkins! I wish you the best of luck at Clemson! I know you’ll do great! You’re a great person and you have a great heart, we believe you can make it! See you on the big screen…

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