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I was surprised to see Jared didn't had his own thread, so here we go, let start out with a nice article :
Vandy finds a rare rush threat
Hawkins puts up big yards twice
By MAURICE PATTON - Staff Writer - September 17, 2008
Over the past three seasons, Vanderbilt tailbacks rushed for 84 yards or more on just six occasions.
Jared Hawkins has done it in each of his first two Commodore starts.
The junior from Texas has given Vanderbilt's rushing game a no-nonsense attitude and a punch that has paid off in the second half of wins over South Carolina and Rice. Hawkins and the Commodores look to carry that ground game into this weekend's Southeastern Conference road matchup with Ole Miss.
"He doesn't say much. He just goes out and gets the job done," Commodores quarterback Chris Nickson said of Hawkins, who set consecutive career highs with his 17-carry, 84-yard effort against the Gamecocks and with his 20-carry, 107-yard outing against the Owls.
"He's a north-south runner. He doesn't like to go east-west a lot. He's a quick hitter. Relative to the other players, I think the biggest difference is his ability to stay north and south and still maintain yards. He has that ability to have quick steps and get to the outside, then get right back north and south."
Hawkins always has been a speed back  reference his career-long 41-yard burst as a redshirt freshman against Arkansas, his 35-yarder against Florida that same season and his 55-yarder in the Rice game that was called back because of an illegal block. But since arriving on campus, Hawkins has added bulk, allowing him to be tough between the tackles and handle the pass-blocking duties that a Vanderbilt running back often faces.
"When you get close to him, you can see he's a really stout guy, a strong young man," Coach Bobby Johnson said of the 5-foot-10, 202-pounder. "I think he surprises people with his power. He does a good job of finishing runs. He had several runs against Rice where he just lowered his shoulder and made extra yards.
"I hate that we had that one called back, that great run. It would have been a good way to finish the game for him," Johnson said.
As it is, his 242 yards are tied for the fifth-best rushing total in the Southeastern Conference and are 56 yards short of the career high he set two years ago.
Despite a preseason bout with shin splints, Hawkins has taken advantage of the extra snaps he's received while senior Jeff Jennings has been sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in the season opener against Miami (Ohio).
Of the tailbacks who have seen time this season, he's the only one who hasn't fumbled, and he's lost just 8 yards on a team-high 50 carries.
"The offensive line's doing a great job of blocking, and I've just followed their blocks," Hawkins said of his recent success.
"Obviously, it hurts not having Jeff in.
"He brings a lot to the running game. But I've been excited about getting to play more."
Reach Maurice Patton at 615-259-8018 or mopatton@tennessean.com.
Edited by: Gi-15
Vandy finds a rare rush threat
Hawkins puts up big yards twice
By MAURICE PATTON - Staff Writer - September 17, 2008
Over the past three seasons, Vanderbilt tailbacks rushed for 84 yards or more on just six occasions.
Jared Hawkins has done it in each of his first two Commodore starts.
The junior from Texas has given Vanderbilt's rushing game a no-nonsense attitude and a punch that has paid off in the second half of wins over South Carolina and Rice. Hawkins and the Commodores look to carry that ground game into this weekend's Southeastern Conference road matchup with Ole Miss.
"He doesn't say much. He just goes out and gets the job done," Commodores quarterback Chris Nickson said of Hawkins, who set consecutive career highs with his 17-carry, 84-yard effort against the Gamecocks and with his 20-carry, 107-yard outing against the Owls.
"He's a north-south runner. He doesn't like to go east-west a lot. He's a quick hitter. Relative to the other players, I think the biggest difference is his ability to stay north and south and still maintain yards. He has that ability to have quick steps and get to the outside, then get right back north and south."
Hawkins always has been a speed back  reference his career-long 41-yard burst as a redshirt freshman against Arkansas, his 35-yarder against Florida that same season and his 55-yarder in the Rice game that was called back because of an illegal block. But since arriving on campus, Hawkins has added bulk, allowing him to be tough between the tackles and handle the pass-blocking duties that a Vanderbilt running back often faces.
"When you get close to him, you can see he's a really stout guy, a strong young man," Coach Bobby Johnson said of the 5-foot-10, 202-pounder. "I think he surprises people with his power. He does a good job of finishing runs. He had several runs against Rice where he just lowered his shoulder and made extra yards.
"I hate that we had that one called back, that great run. It would have been a good way to finish the game for him," Johnson said.
As it is, his 242 yards are tied for the fifth-best rushing total in the Southeastern Conference and are 56 yards short of the career high he set two years ago.
Despite a preseason bout with shin splints, Hawkins has taken advantage of the extra snaps he's received while senior Jeff Jennings has been sidelined with a shoulder injury suffered in the season opener against Miami (Ohio).
Of the tailbacks who have seen time this season, he's the only one who hasn't fumbled, and he's lost just 8 yards on a team-high 50 carries.
"The offensive line's doing a great job of blocking, and I've just followed their blocks," Hawkins said of his recent success.
"Obviously, it hurts not having Jeff in.
"He brings a lot to the running game. But I've been excited about getting to play more."
Reach Maurice Patton at 615-259-8018 or mopatton@tennessean.com.
Edited by: Gi-15
