A.J. Hawk First NFL Draft Pick
The Ohio State linebacker is worthy of all the attention.
Apr 24, 2006
Last night, I was dreaming about A.J. Hawk. No, it wasn't the kind of dream that coeds have. It was the one that many NFL general managers are having, heading into this weekend's 2006 NFL draft -- a vision of Hawk donning their team's uniform this season. I was dreaming of what this defensive enforcer would look like wearing the colors of my favorite NFL team.
A.J. Hawk is the sort of football player that doesn't come around very often. He'll be passed by four or five teams on Saturday, in favor of the popular picks - Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Leinart.
These are fine players and wonderful NFL prospects, but other than Bush, no one has the remarkable upside of Hawk.
A fleet-footed 248-pound outside linebacker from Ohio State, Hawk is Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher and Lawrence Taylor, morphed into one all-over-the-place, never-miss-a-tackle, in-your-face wrecking machine.
Very few players can completely take over a football game on defense, but Hawk is one. His college numbers are stupendous: 262 tackles in his last two seasons in just 24 games; three forced fumbles, 9.5 sacks and an interception in his senior season, when linemen and running backs zeroed in on him as if Hawk were a scud missile, aimed directly at their leader.
As is often the case with true greats, these statistics reveal little about the athlete. The intangibles are what truly define Hawk. His best trait may be his absolute, unconditional love of football and his desire to be the best at his trade.
Hawk comes from a family of competitors. His brother played quarterback at Ohio University, and hunting and shooting are family hobbies. How appropriate that someone named Hawk should enjoy hunting. If he catches his prey as easily as he runs down quarterbacks and receivers, no animal in the wild kingdom is safe.
Not since Jerry Rice has the NFL witnessed a player with the dedication, work ethic and humility that will fly alongside A.J. Hawk when he enters the NFL this year.
At one of the many awards ceremonies, he was invited to last season, Hawk disdained the high praise lavished upon him by one of his coaches, mainly because he had to miss time with his Buckeye teammates: "I hate to miss practice, for whatever reason," Hawk told Columbus radio station WBNS. "Then, to hear coach (Luke) Fickell say that stuff about me; it was kind of weird."
There's definitely something weird about a splendid player like Hawk, snubbing his nose at praise. Most athletes, today, look for accolades, even when they aren't merited. Not A.J. Hawk. He's only concerned with more tackles and more victories.
In a few short years, Hawk will hear many comments from other coaches. The consummate warrior, though, Hawk won't care. "What's made A.J. so special is that he doesn't really pay attention to what anyone says about him, whether it's good or bad," adds his former college head coach Jim Tressel. "He just goes about his business and works hard and tries to get better every day, and that's why you see the results from him over time that have made him one of the best to ever play here."
Imagine how good a player is to be called one of the best to ever compete at storied Ohio State University. It won't be long before A.J. Hawk will soar to similar stardom in the NFL.
And the vision of having Hawk roaming the gridiron in my hometown? Oh, what a wonderful dream.
