Hawkins and quarterback competitor Nick Nelson both benefit from competition
For quarterback Cody Hawkins, whose dad is coach Dan Hawkins, it’s Coach Hawk on the field and Dad off the field.
“It’s a lot of fun, being around my dad, he’s an awesome guy and I’ve always been very close with him. I think it’s funny how often people play the whole thing up,” Cody said.
Cody said that he never calls Dan Hawkins Dad, because everyone else on the team addresses him as Coach Hawk.
But this spring, Cody has been competing for the starting quarterback position for the upcoming season in the fall. He and Nick Nelson are sharing snaps, but Cody is receiving the majority of the snaps right now. Both Nelson and Cody agree that the competition between the two has made each one of them better.
“Every good athlete always competes against himself, but when you actually have someone there to materialize it, doing everything you are doing, trying to get better and trying to beat you out, then it definitely pushes you to the limit to get better,” Cody said.
After practice on Monday, Cody was taking snaps with some of the offensive linemen, and wide receiver Jarrell Yates talked about his progress.
“See him right? Now he’s out here after practice slinging the rock, so all he is doing is developing and getting better,” Yates said.
But Cody said that one of the things he is doing well besides developing into a good quarterback is that he is gelling well with the other players.
“I think a big part of that are my teammates as well. Everybody has been really accepting, and one of the great things about coming out here is everybody is great guy,” Cody said.
As spring ball continues for the Buffs, it is becoming more apparent that the passing game will be much better in the fall. Both Cody and Nelson are looking good in practice with both players posting nearly identical numbers in scrimmages.
Since Cody joined the Buffs, the team could tell that he was going to be a special quarterback who would eventually compete for the starting job.
“Cody is a great quarterback. As soon as he got up here, you could realize his talent right away,” Yates said.
Last season, Cody was red shirted, but he sent in a lot of the plays to the offense, which was an experience that taught him the speed of the college game.
“I got a lot more mature and got used to the speed and intensity,” Cody said.
But this season will not only be different for Cody, but for all of the Buffs. As Cody is looking to step into that leadership role that the quarterback position requires, he is taking his time and focusing on other things right now.
“I feel like I’m doing an OK job, but I am a freshman, so I do my best to be up-tempo and be vocal,” Cody said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Kyle McDaniel at kyle.mcdaniel@thecampuspress.com
