The New York Giants thought they might have a steal on their hands at the NFL draft last spring when they selected Old Dominion defensive back Tre Hawkins III.
During training camp, Hawkins played his way up the depth chart and was even running with the ‘ones,’ or starters, but as the season unfolded, Hawkins was pushed back down the order, playing just 31 percent of the defensive snaps.
Hawkins played less and less as the season went on and whatever the Giants saw in him during training camp wasn’t enough to leapfrog over the starting duo of Adoree’ Jackson and first-round pick Deonte Banks.
“It was a roller-coaster ride — lots of ups, lots of downs. It was a lot of little things [rolled] into one,” Hawkins told the New York Post as he cleaned out his locker this week.
“I was trying to go through any adversity that came my way and finish strong. It is hard staying focused [when not playing], but it’s my job and a task that I have to do.”
Jackson will be a free agent come March and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is gone, giving Hawkins a fresh start as he embarks on his second season. He says he’s learned a lot by being on the bench down the stretch.
“I think it’s more the mental part of the game — studying the game more, becoming more of an IQ player,” Hawkins said. “A lot of people are athletic in this league, but what separates you is how you study and your preparation.”
Hawkins has the size and physical attributes at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds to be a special player as an outside corner. The Giants will continue to develop him and hope he can fulfill the promise they saw last summer.
“He’s been a true pro, done a good job in terms of everything we’ve asked him to do, and I look forward to working with him,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “I’m glad we have him.”
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