Giants select Tre Hawkins at pick 209 of the NFL Draft
The Giants have started the 2023 NFL Draft with a corner, and as we approach the end of day three and the weekend culminates, the Giants have added yet corner by way of Old Dominion in Tre Hawkins III. Hawkins III had a tremendous Pro Day, with numbers including a 4.4 forty-yard dash, 37-inch vertical […]
The Giants have started the 2023 NFL Draft with a corner, and as we approach the end of day three and the weekend culminates, the Giants have added yet corner by way of Old Dominion in Tre Hawkins III.
Hawkins III had a tremendous Pro Day, with numbers including a 4.4 forty-yard dash, 37-inch vertical jump, and an electric 6.74-second three-cone drill. At this point in the draft, it's all about finding players that have traits, something Hawkins has in spades.
He likely will see time as a special team player early in his career, with the ability to provide depth as a contributor in the secondary at a later point in his career should he develop the way New York hopes.
Here is what Dane Brugler of The Athletic had to say about Hawkins:
Larry “Tre” Hawkins III was a decorated athlete (football and track) at Temple High. He finished his senior season with 60 tackles and two interceptions. He was forced to go the juco route out of high school and played two seasons at Trinity Valley Community in east Texas. He signed with Old Dominion in the 2020 recruiting class, but that season was wiped out because of the pandemic. Hawkins started all 25 games the past two seasons and made noticeable improvements as a senior (his penalties dropped from six to only one in 2022). He has a tall, long and limber body type with the gather-and-go skills to quickly transition vertically and stay attached to receivers. His long speed is impressive, but his average lateral agility will put him in recovery mode and shows up as a tackler. Overall, Hawkins will get clingy and needs to improve his play recognition, but he passes the eye test with flying colors and has the athletic profile NFL teams will want to develop.
Hawkins is a well-rounded player that recorded an impressive 70 tackles in 2021, a number that rivals safeties, and shows his willingness to mix it up in run support. Between his measurables and playstyle, don't be shocked if Hawkins sticks around for a while.
