Hawkins selected to play in Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl

Every kid dreams of flying in a big plane or playing football in a huge stadium under the bright lights.

Walter R. Johnson student-athlete Marcus Hawkins did both this month.

The seventh-grader was named a Football University Youth All-American and invited to play in the 2012 Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in the Alamo Dome in San Antonio.

Hawkins flew to Texas with his dad, Rex Connelly, on Jan. 3 and made the return trek Jan. 8 following his championship game.

“I enjoyed the flight — especially taking off then rising to the top speed before making a sudden landing at the airport. It was a great experience for my first time.”

Hawkins started in the backfield on offense and at linebacker on defense for this year’s WJMS squad that finished third in the FAC and 6-2 overall.

“I was nominated by my coach (Walter Johnson’s Marlon Grier) then invited by a committee to attend a combine in the mountainous region up in Avery County,” said Hawkins.

“One of the Charlotte area coaches, Larry Kennedy, announced the selection onto the FUY All-American squad of 23 East players back in mid-December. It was an honor to compete with the top seventh-graders in the nation” Hawkins said.

Hawkins was one of five North Carolinians (Tucker Tierney, Waxhaw; Savante Drakeford, Indian Trail; Garrett Groulx, Cornelius; John Williamson III, Matthews) selected to the East squad.

“Making the East All-Star team just speaks volumes about his talent and his potential,” Grier said. “That is a high honor for him. Marcus stood out and his selection is a statement about his will and drive … something that you cannot coach. Marcus is a talented young person.”

Marcus, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 235 pounds, was selected to play guard but quickly moved to left tackle the first day of camp in Texas.

“This was the first time since fourth grade with coach Todd Roper playing that position,” Hawkins said. “At Forest Hills, Josh Rutherford lined up at left guard while I played left tackle beside him. I had new techniques to learn in a short period, but I did a good job handling my assignments in the short amount of time spent on the practice field.”

Marcus and his 22 teammates captured a 30-14 win in the seventh-grade, 175-pound weight limit division. (There wasn’t a weight limit for offensive linemen.)

“It was great to be on the winning East team,” Hawkins said. “There was a lot of trash talk between both teams but we (East squad) did our talking on the Alamo Dome football field. We just worked hard and played football.

“I was able to play on the defensive line for a couple series. On my first tackle I ran across the field to make the stop…and you could hear ‘that big guy can move.’ On a West squad punt I was able to make a cut back block to level one of their players to help our returner gain more yards. I also blocked an extra-point attempt late in the game.”

Marcus remembers one of the breakout sessions he experienced with his East All-American teammates.

“Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington played Coach Boone in the movie ‘Remember the Titans’) spoke to us saying, ‘Hard work comes before success. Success is nothing but a word in the dictionary. You have to earn it.’”

Marcus also attended the U.S. Army All-American Bowl that Jan. 7 where he met to N.C. high school All-Americans — Jonathan Bullard (Shelby Crest, Florida) and Carlos Watkins (Chase, Clemson). Hawkins also saw rapper Snoop Dogg’s son playing on the USA football team, as well as Barry Sanders, Jr. playing on the West squad in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Hawkins was elated that his father was able to take time off to spend with him during this trip to Texas, especially after the loss of his mother Tina Hawkins in October.

“It was a great experience for me to spend time with my dad,” Marcus said. “I could talk to him about football while also getting to know him even better. My dad teaches me a lot about football and even more about life.

“Mom is my motivation. I strive to be more like her every day. I do wish I could look up in the stands to see her smiling face and hear her voice when she yells. I’ve gotten lots of support from family and friends reminding me to stay busy by being involved in intelligent activities.

“Every day my mom would tell me and my older siblings (Maurise, Andre, Javon and Jamora) ‘Live the day great. But everyday is not promised.’ I try to do that in my everyday walk.”