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Penn State Football Recruiting Commit Breakdown: DT Aeneas Hawkins

By Marty Leap

PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds his team back as they prepare to take the field against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - NOVEMBER 19: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds his team back as they prepare to take the field against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at High Point Solutions Stadium on November 19, 2016 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Penn State football’s 2018 recruiting class now has 23 verbal commits

For the third time in the past week Penn State football’s 2018 recruiting class has earned a verbal commit. This time it comes from four-star defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins. This gives Penn State 23 verbal commits and a trio of defensive tackles in its 2018 recruiting class.

Hawkins announced his decision Thursday morning via a recorded video.

Aeneas Hawkins is a native of Cincinnati, and his recruitment came down to the Nittany Lions and his hometown Bearcats. One of the major reasons why Cincinnati was such a huge player for Hawkins is that both of his parents were sports stars for the Bearcats. Hawkins also held scholarship offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, and Ohio State, among others.

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Hawkins comes from a great blood line. His father, Artrell Hawkins, had a nine-year NFL career with the Bengals, Panthers, and Patriots. Also, his uncle Andrew Hawkins had a six-year NFL career with the Bengals and Browns.

Hawkins is a very technically sound player. He does a great job of getting leverage on offensive linemen, and he uses his hands exceptionally well. Hawkins also has a great first step at the snap of the ball and a relentless motor.

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The lone knock on Hawkins is his size. How much can he add to his frame in college? Well, that is a question that will have to be answered in time. His relentless motor and athleticism help to make up for these size issues, similar to current Penn State football defensive tackle Kevin Givens. Also like Givens, Hawkins can use his size to his advantage to help him get lower than offensive linemen and get leverage on them.

Upon arriving on campus Aeneas Hawkins will need a redshirt. But, in time, Hawkins will make a great three-technique defensive tackle for the Nittany Lions. Hawkins plays high school football for one of the best programs in the Midwest in Archbishop Moeller. Due to this, he plays against excellent competition each week which will help to have him prepared for college as well.

Landing Aeneas Hawkins was another great recruiting victory by James Franklin and company. Early on his recruitment he appeared to be a Ohio State lean, and then he appeared to be a lock to stay home and go to Cincinnati.

However, Franklin and company stayed on Hawkins and kept recruiting him hard. Then after a great visit for the Lasch Bash, the Nittany Lions took a commanding lead in his recruitment and never looked back.

Next: Commit Breakdown: PJ Mustipher

With the commitment of Hawkins, Penn State’s 2018 recruiting class remains third in the country according to the composite rankings of 247 Sports. Also with Hawkins’ commitment, Penn State’s class is closing in on being full.

You can watch his film here. Welcome to Happy Valley, Aeneas!

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