Here’s what Falcons safety Jaylinn Hawkins had to say on a conference call with the Atlanta media after being selected in the fourth round of the NFL draft on Saturday:
On getting the call from the Falcons: "It was an amazing call, man. Once in a lifetime experience. God really blessed me. I'm planning on coming and helping the team, helping the defense. Going to work, man. You know what I'm saying? Making plays. Helping out with changing the culture, stuff like that. I really want to contribute in all aspects. That could be from special teams to anything. Wherever my job is and my role is on that team, I'm going to do it 1000%. I'm going to help and contribute and give it my best, no matter where I am."
On switching from corner to safety: "Yes sir, I was used at a lot of positions for the [California] Bears. I came in playing a receiver role, but I wanted to help the defense so I played corner and then switched to safety. I played free and strong. It's always a lot to adjust with, but I'm a football player and I study the game heavily. Having a good skill set helps me out and I go hard at what I do, so that transition wasn't as hard. I'm just thankful."
On when he talked to the Falcons and how their conversation went: "It went great. I'm excited to get out there and get to work once all of this stuff ends. I'm just happy, man. That's it. I'm just blessed. A good meeting with the coach and a good meeting with the general manager. It's just crazy. I can't explain it."
On his 10 career interceptions at California and making plays on the ball: "Man, my ability is there. Everything I want to do is get the ball. That's just been my game. it can be from a strip or a pick aspect. I grew up playing offense, now I'm playing defense. My biggest thing is, 'How can I get to the ball?' Whatever it is. Rob something or go out there and line something up or strip something. It was a big emphasis not only with myself but with my team at Cal. That was a big emphasis. Get the ball back. Of course, shut down and lock down seams, but really get the ball back. That changes the game. My ability, I can do a lot of things from strips to picks. I have excellent ball skills. My skill set is there. Great football and football intelligence."
On whether or not his lower draft predictions bothered him: "Of course, everyone is going to use it as motivation, but honestly, to keep it 100, I just block out what people have to say. Internally, I'm motivated. Of course, everyone has something that motivates them, I can't let the outside factors motivate me. I'm already motivated myself. With that, it just added extra fuel to the flame."
On whether or not he was surprised to be taken in the fourth round: "Yeah, pretty surprised. I had some projections in the fourth round. I was scattered all over the place. I also had some projections in the sixth and seventh. A lot of sixths, some seventh, and a little bit of UDFA (undrafted free agent). I just prayed and left it to God. I didn't really harp on it. I felt like wherever I was going to go, whatever was going to happen, I was just going to do me. It would pan out in God's will. It was crazy, it wasn't expected like that. I got the call and I was like, 'Dang, once in a lifetime.' "
On his style of play against the run when he comes down into the box: "Really physical. I like to hit. I like to come down and make tackles. Sometimes I like to deliver big blows. In all my years, I've done better from just delivering big blows to making sure tackles. On the back-end part, if I'm in the post or I'm playing whatever type of safety, it's really about getting picks. I like making plays on the ball."
On the one-handed interception he made in the game against Stanford: "They tried to hit us with a double post. I was hit with it the week before. Based on that play, what I did was open my hips to get the quarterback to throw the ball. He thought he could fit it over my head. I just went up. Went up one-handed and ended up snatching it based on my reads. It was a great play. A game-changing play, especially in the big game. A memorable moment for the rest of my life. It was cool."
On his confidence about making an impact on the Falcons defense: "Nobody will work as hard as me. That's just my motto. I work very hard. Everything I do, I give it 110%. I believe in God and I believe in myself. I've been through so much in my life and gone through so many loopholes. I always bet on myself, my work ethic and God. With that being said, I just let the rest play out. I'm not really going to talk about what I'm going to do, I'm just going to work. It will play out."
On the pre-draft process: "I'm still in shock. It was crazy. A big adjustment. I had to adjust everything. Not getting a pro day, grinding just in case things open up again. Only getting to do certain things at the combine. It's just crazy. It's just very crazy. The world gave us a curveball with the crazy stuff that's going on. I just kept working. No matter what, I was going to keep working. That was my thing."
On playing with his uncle in high school and college: "It was great. We'd go at it every day in practice. It was a great experience. He's an amazing player. With him being younger than me, I definitely put him in his place. It was fun. It was a great experience. Always playing with family is an incredible experience."
On the way his experience at receiver helps him play defensive back: "I have a pretty good IQ on how things will go. That helps me. I have a good IQ on how balls are going to be thrown a certain way. My shoulder might be thrown at 15 to 18, or … might be a 15 or something if I'm in a cover 2. Stuff like that has helped me a lot with my game. I look forward to just keep learning. This is just the beginning. I have so much more to learn. Going to the Falcons program, learning from the [California] Bears, it's crazy."
On his willingness to play special teams: "I have great experience. I've been a core-four guy for all four years. At Cal, I played kick returner. I was back there returning kicks. I was in the punt returner group. I ran down as an L5 sometimes. I would also protect and guard on the punt this year, ran down and was the mike (linebacker). I've played all special teams, man. I played it all four years and I believed it helped the team win."
On where he is watching the draft and who he's with: "I'm home with my family. Not too many people because we have to stay right with the coronavirus still going on. I'm just with the family. We're just watching. I was talking to my agent throughout the time about a lot of stuff. I just got that call, and I was like, 'Oh man. Okay.' I'm just thankful. I'm still in shock, but I'm just thankful."
AJC’s 2020 POSITION BY POSITION DRAFT SERIES
Quarterbacks: Joe Burrow leads class | Top 10
Running backs: Cam Akers' life lesson | Top 10
Tight ends: Harrison Bryant top prospect | Top 10
Guards/Centers: Solomon Kindley a late-rounder | Top 10
Offensive tackles: Austin Jackson's life lesson | Top 10
Wide receivers: Jeudy or Lamb | Top 10
Defensive tackles: Brown, Kinlaw stand out | Top 10
Defensive ends: A 'generational' talent | Top 10
Linebackers: Simmons a position-less LB | Top 10
Safeties: Loaded with Georgia talent | Top 10
Special teams: Georgia's kick-centered | Return with flash | Top 10
Cornerbacks: Jeff Okudah a lockdown CB | Top 10
--
The Bow Tie Chronicles Podcasts:
Can be found on Google, iTunes and TuneIn
For more content about the Atlanta Falcons:
Follow me on Twitter @DorlandoAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta Falcons News Now
Atlanta Falcons coverage on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Have a question? Email me at dledbetter@ajc.com
