GreatLakeState
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Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - It has been almost three years since Andrew Hawken lined up in the backfield during a regular-season football game.
But the former all-state Grandville (Mich.) running back showed on Saturday that the two plus years he has spent at linebacker since arriving at Michigan State in 2005 have not dulled his instincts on offense.
Hawken, who moved to fullback from inside linebacker early in fall training camp, made the most of his first collegiate start. He scored the first touchdown of his college career on a 3-yard pass from back-up quarterback Connor Dixon to give Michigan State a 42-0 lead with 3:20 remaining in the first half of Michigan State's 55-18 win over UAB in the season opener for both schools.
Hawken also caught the first pass of the Mark Dantonio era at Michigan State on play that picked up 15 yards. Hawken was the primary read on the play with Kellen Freeman-Davis as the deep threat.
On the opening pass play, junior quarterback Brian Hoyer had good protection. He had the time to look to Hawken before looking down field to see if Freeman-Davis was open for a big gain. Hoyer instead opted to go with his primary read, resulting in a first down.
"It felt good," said Hawken of his first collegiate reception. "It got a first down and started things right."
Hawken has only been on the offense a short time, but Hoyer has already begun to rely on the red-shirt sophomore as a receiving threat.
"He is versatile," explained Hoyer. "He can block inside, but you saw on the first play of the game that he can make a catch and get up field. He is real versatile. I think all our fullbacks did a great job today but with Andrew and Jeff (McPherson)catching the ball it gives the offense another dimension."
Although he enjoyed the time he spent on defense, Hawken said that the move to offense made sense for him because fullback was a position of need.
"We just have to turn it around and win games here," said Hawken. "The coaches felt that we needed guys at fullback and they felt that the linebackers were good. I was willing to do it. They came and asked me about it and I said let's do it.
"You can't beat scoring touchdowns and getting the ball. But I sill like linebacker and I still like defense."
Hawken has pass catching down and he can run the ball some as evidenced by a 4-yard gain that moved the sticks in the second half. But the sophomore is still learning how to block.
"The fullback is something we haven't had here in awhile," said Hawken, "but if you need three yards and you have a fullback in there, chances are you are going to get it."
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
EAST LANSING - It has been almost three years since Andrew Hawken lined up in the backfield during a regular-season football game.
But the former all-state Grandville (Mich.) running back showed on Saturday that the two plus years he has spent at linebacker since arriving at Michigan State in 2005 have not dulled his instincts on offense.
Hawken, who moved to fullback from inside linebacker early in fall training camp, made the most of his first collegiate start. He scored the first touchdown of his college career on a 3-yard pass from back-up quarterback Connor Dixon to give Michigan State a 42-0 lead with 3:20 remaining in the first half of Michigan State's 55-18 win over UAB in the season opener for both schools.
Hawken also caught the first pass of the Mark Dantonio era at Michigan State on play that picked up 15 yards. Hawken was the primary read on the play with Kellen Freeman-Davis as the deep threat.
On the opening pass play, junior quarterback Brian Hoyer had good protection. He had the time to look to Hawken before looking down field to see if Freeman-Davis was open for a big gain. Hoyer instead opted to go with his primary read, resulting in a first down.
"It felt good," said Hawken of his first collegiate reception. "It got a first down and started things right."
Hawken has only been on the offense a short time, but Hoyer has already begun to rely on the red-shirt sophomore as a receiving threat.
"He is versatile," explained Hoyer. "He can block inside, but you saw on the first play of the game that he can make a catch and get up field. He is real versatile. I think all our fullbacks did a great job today but with Andrew and Jeff (McPherson)catching the ball it gives the offense another dimension."
Although he enjoyed the time he spent on defense, Hawken said that the move to offense made sense for him because fullback was a position of need.
"We just have to turn it around and win games here," said Hawken. "The coaches felt that we needed guys at fullback and they felt that the linebackers were good. I was willing to do it. They came and asked me about it and I said let's do it.
"You can't beat scoring touchdowns and getting the ball. But I sill like linebacker and I still like defense."
Hawken has pass catching down and he can run the ball some as evidenced by a 4-yard gain that moved the sticks in the second half. But the sophomore is still learning how to block.
"The fullback is something we haven't had here in awhile," said Hawken, "but if you need three yards and you have a fullback in there, chances are you are going to get it."