Ohio State 2023 SAF - Cedrick Hawkins (Transfer to ??)

Rivals.com
24/7Sports

ATHLETE
5'11'' | 175 LBS
CLASS OF 2023

Ohio State has offered.

 

Highly BLESSED 🙏🏾and HONORED to say i have RECEIVED an OFFER FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY! ❤️🖤🙇🏽‍♂️#GoBuckeyes🌰 @ryandaytime @DB_CoachCoombs @CoachMattBarnes @Therula99 @Cocoa_Schneider @SouthFLExpress pic.twitter.com/eSgiOmDi4k

— Ced🎭🥷🏽 (@cedrick_hawkins) June 23, 2021

 

Check out Cedrick hawkins F/S highlights C/O 23 by Cedrick Hawkins on @hudl https://t.co/jI8FaTlRhA #hudl

— OSUBasketballJunkie (@ScarletBuckeye2) June 24, 2021

 

The Buckeyes got some good news in the middle of the Rose Bowl as four-star 2023 safety Cedrick Hawkins commits to Ohio State. https://t.co/SCI5xYNxwu

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2022

 

Breaking: 2023 four-star DB Cedrick Hawkins has committed to Ohio State.

More from Hawkins on his decision: https://t.co/faZwvgfcTw pic.twitter.com/C36ntd9vxz

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) January 1, 2022

 

Buckeyes get a commitment from Florida 4-star Cedrick Hawkins. 2023 safety prospect from Cocoa.https://t.co/hDqkdX8rOv

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 1, 2022

 

🤍new year new things 🤞🏾🦍 pic.twitter.com/YJeSTPiVM6

— Ced🎭🥷🏽 (@cedrick_hawkins) January 1, 2022

 

#Buckeyes land commitment from Florida 4-star 2023 safety Cedrick Hawkins. https://t.co/G5FOa2chHU

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) January 1, 2022

 

RECRUITING: #Buckeyes pick up a commitment from four-star 2023 safety Cedrick Hawkins out of Florida.https://t.co/phkwvZE140

— BuckeyeScoop (@BuckeyeScoop) January 1, 2022

 

Buckeyes commit Cedrick Hawkins has his next visit to Ohio State planned and is eager to keep recruiting others to join him in Columbus — #stuff on him here https://t.co/eTPWPLbyrj

— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 29, 2022

 

#OhioState commit @cedrick_hawkins of @SouthFLExpress with a shoutout to the Buckeye fans from @Pylon7on7 Orlando, https://t.co/pbEl0jiyp5@Birm @Zack_Carp @On3Recruits pic.twitter.com/VfiQBkO8sL

— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) January 29, 2022

 

#Buckeyes' safety commit Cedrick Hawkins locks in first #OhioState visit as a Buckeye commitment. VIP https://t.co/Bd0BBwyogo

— Bill Kurelic (@Bill_Kurelic) February 14, 2022

 

HAWKINS TO MAKE TRIP TO COLUMBUS FOR SPRING GAME
One of Ohio State’s four commitments in the class of 2023 has locked in a visit to Columbus for the OSU spring game. Four-star Florida safety Cedrick Hawkins told 247Sports this week he plans to be at Ohio State from April 15-17, with the Buckeyes playing their spring game on April 16. He will make the trip with his mother and two siblings.

Hawkins committed to Ohio State during the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. His primary recruiters are running backs coach Tony Alford, who is in charge of OSU’s Florida recruiting, and Ryan Day. It will be the 6-foot, 165-pound safety’s first visit to Columbus since committing and his first trip to OSU since last summer.

 

Hawkins plans April visit
Ohio State is set to welcome 2023 four-star safety and Buckeye commit Cedrick Hawkins of Cocoa (FL) to campus for the first time since he announced his verbal pledge to the program during the Rose Bowl contest against Utah on Jan. 1.

The news of Hawkins setting a visit, which will be his second, was revealed by 247Sports' Bill Kurelic, and Eleven Warriors' Garrick Hodge discussed that the trip to Columbus will take place on April 15-17. That means the 6-foot, 165-pounder will be in attendance for Ohio State's annual spring game that is scheduled for April 16.

The expectation is that there will be many other highly-touted prospects also in attendances for the scrimmage, and having Hawkins roaming the sidelines and doing some recruiting of his own could only be another benefit for the Buckeyes.

Hawkins, a Titusville native, is currently graded as the No. 228 prospect that the 2023 class has to offer. The Tigers standout defensive back also comes in as the No. 22 safety and the No. 41 player from the always-loaded state of Florida.

 

Today Shane (@BuckeyesCrootin) is taking a look at one of the commitments that shocked Buckeye fans in the middle of the Rose Bowl, and one he thinks every Buckeye fan should know about: @cedrick_hawkins https://t.co/MqpPbQ1e8h

— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) March 22, 2022

 

The Hurry-Up: Cedrick Hawkins (@cedrick_hawkins) felt at home during his latest visit to OSU and thinks “one or all” of his 7-on-7 teammates could join him at Ohio State, and Ryan Day doesn’t want recruits to visit other schools after they commit.https://t.co/9aEz3Y1kMc

— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) April 4, 2022

However his Ohio State football career plays out, four-star 2023 Florida safety Cedrick Hawkins will be the answer to this trivia question years down the line: What recruit committed to Ohio State during the midst of the Rose Bowl of 2022?

Hawkins made his commitment despite only visiting Ohio State once in June, around six months before he pulled the trigger with the Buckeyes. Three months later, the 6-foot, 165-pound Hawkins is more confident in his decision than ever.

“I felt like it was a great moment and time to do so, all I felt was right,” Hawkins told Eleven Warriors of his decision to commit during the Rose Bowl.

Hawkins made his second visit to Columbus over the weekend with a bunch of his teammates from his seven-on-seven team, South Florida Express. The trip only reaffirmed Hawkins’ love for Ohio State and reinforced why he decided to commit to OSU in the first place.

“The visit was great, it’s always great to be home,” Hawkins said. “I was ready to be a Buckeye more than anything. My favorite part of the visit was sitting down and talking to all the coaches and players I’ll be around for the next couple of years. I feel like a part of the brotherhood already.”

Hawkins, considered the 235th-best player and the 22nd-best safety in the 2023 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings, approved of the hiring of new safeties coach Perry Eliano, saying the pair have formed a tightly knit bond.

“Coach Eliano and I have always had a great relationship,” Hawkins said. “But it’s never always about football, he makes sure things are better off the field than on the field.”

Ohio State hasn’t mentioned to Hawkins what type of safety they envision him being in Jim Knowles’ three-safety scheme when he arrives on campus. But he’s open to playing whatever is asked.

“I can bring a lot to the table,” Hawkins said. “I can get things done from wherever I’m at on the field.”

Hawkins also insisted he’s locked into his commitment with OSU and will not be taking any other visits for the duration of his recruitment except to Columbus.

Hawkins was accompanied on his visit by a multitude of fellow Florida recruits the Buckeyes would love to see in an Ohio State uniform, including Brandon Inniss, Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith, Joshisa Trader, Mark Fletcher, Sharif Denson and Daemon Fagan. Hawkins said he is not recruiting them to join him at Ohio State, mainly because he feels he doesn’t need to. He even went as far to make a bold prediction.

“My teammates are great guys, I don’t really have to say anything to them, they know what’s the best move for them and Ohio State is that,” Hawkins said. “Don’t be surprised if you see one or all of them commit in a couple of weeks.”

Inniss was asked by Eleven Warriors in January if having Hawkins in the fold would make him more likely to suit up for Ohio State in the future.

“I mean, we’ll see,” Inniss said with a wide smile. “It’s good to know somebody I know will be up there. That’s my guy, Ced. So I know what he’s going to bring to Ohio State. He’s a great kid.”

Hawkins has not yet made a decision on if he will be a midyear enrollee or wait until the summer of 2023. He is still talking out his options with his family.

 

#Rivals250 DB Cedric Hawkins remains locked in with Ohio State and his recent visit to Columbus only helped solidify his pledge.

@RWrightRivals has more from Hawkins: https://t.co/4oUvjllH8K pic.twitter.com/uiux517Wsp

— Rivals (@Rivals) April 5, 2022