Say what you will about Chris Hawkins, he is confident. He's also very competitive. Both of those traits have boiled to the surface in summer workouts. Hawkins, of course, is looking for them to manifest in training camp and, ultimately, this fall as he tries to earn playing time at the wide-open safety position.
We checked in with the redshirt sophomore this week to see how he's handling the transition from cornerback.
How comfortable are you at safety these days?
CH: “I feel great. I grow every day I play. The more reps I take the better I get at it. My drive and competitiveness is one of a kind, so whatever I do, whatever I take on, whether that’s being a corner, even if I was going to linebacker, I would try to do my best at it. I want to be the best at it.”
You appear to be playing with a lot more confidence in these workouts.
CH: “The more confident you are the better you’re going to play. That’s always been my motto. Last year during the season, when I was confident, I was playing good. When I was unsure about myself, that’s when I started getting the penalties and messing up. My confidence is 110 percent right now at the safety spot.”
The role of the safety seems to be evolving at USC. Do you think it’s a good position for you?
CH: “Taylor Mays was 6-4, 200 and whatever pounds. But the game of football is changing. We used to be a Power-I team. Now we’re mostly spread. Our defensive backs have to adjust to what’s going on. Schools like Arizona and Oregon have super-fast guys in the slot. An ex-corner like myself would be a better fit to stick them.”
The last signing class included a lot of talent in the secondary. Are you expecting a battle in fall camp?
CH: “I’m all up for competition. I’ve had competition since I got here, and I hope it never stops. I would never want to get complacent. I’m all up for it. I’m confident right now. I feel like anything is possible.”
Do you play with a chip on your shoulder because you had to move?
CH: “I play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what. No matter if I’m the returning starter, no matter if I’ve been here for five years. I’m always going to play with a chip on my shoulder because I feel like you play better with that chip. You never want to get complacent.”
What do you like about playing safety?
CH: “You’re able to put your own twist on the game. At corner, you have to line up and go against that receiver right there in the scheme of the defense. But at safety you’re able to roam around, disguise as you want, as long as you’re in your spot when the play starts. You get to mess with the QB’s head a little bit. I like the trickiness about it.”
You and De’Quan Hampton engaged in some extended trash talk last week. Is that just part of your game?
CH: “Yeah. That’s good for everybody. Adoree’ (Jackson) and JuJu (Smith) started it with their talking and it elevated because De’Quan tried to attack Adoree’ and I came to Adoree’s defense because everybody was trying to attack him, and then me and (Hampton) went at it. I won the last rep and then said some things at the end I probably shouldn’t have said. But that all comes with the territory of playing football. To have that between teammates and then at the end of the day we’re still shaking hands and being best friends, that’s just going to make us better as a team.”
Do you think you would have talked like that in spring camp or is that a byproduct of you being more comfortable at your new position?
CH: “I talked like that a little bit in spring camp, against JuJu sometimes. Once I’m comfortable with what I’m doing, you’ll see a different me. You’ll see more free-range, more talking, because I feel comfortable. I feel like when my confidence is sky high, no one can beat me.”
What’s an area you’re looking to shore up before the season?
CH: “Right now it’d probably be my speed. I’m working on my speed every day. My weight is up. I’m 193 right now. I’m feeling good. I’m 193 and I feel like I’m 180. I’m bigger than I’ve ever been and I feel like I’m just as light. I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, upper body and lower body.”
Is that from your work with Ivan Lewis?
CH: “Yeah, Ivan is great. He really gets you right. He has these particular workouts for people. It really benefits us. I’ve been able to put on weight and still stay the same, how I looked last year. I put on 10 pounds. I’m faster than I’ve ever been. I’m more explosive, so I feel like I can do anything.”
We checked in with the redshirt sophomore this week to see how he's handling the transition from cornerback.
How comfortable are you at safety these days?
CH: “I feel great. I grow every day I play. The more reps I take the better I get at it. My drive and competitiveness is one of a kind, so whatever I do, whatever I take on, whether that’s being a corner, even if I was going to linebacker, I would try to do my best at it. I want to be the best at it.”
You appear to be playing with a lot more confidence in these workouts.
CH: “The more confident you are the better you’re going to play. That’s always been my motto. Last year during the season, when I was confident, I was playing good. When I was unsure about myself, that’s when I started getting the penalties and messing up. My confidence is 110 percent right now at the safety spot.”
The role of the safety seems to be evolving at USC. Do you think it’s a good position for you?
CH: “Taylor Mays was 6-4, 200 and whatever pounds. But the game of football is changing. We used to be a Power-I team. Now we’re mostly spread. Our defensive backs have to adjust to what’s going on. Schools like Arizona and Oregon have super-fast guys in the slot. An ex-corner like myself would be a better fit to stick them.”
The last signing class included a lot of talent in the secondary. Are you expecting a battle in fall camp?
CH: “I’m all up for competition. I’ve had competition since I got here, and I hope it never stops. I would never want to get complacent. I’m all up for it. I’m confident right now. I feel like anything is possible.”
Do you play with a chip on your shoulder because you had to move?
CH: “I play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what. No matter if I’m the returning starter, no matter if I’ve been here for five years. I’m always going to play with a chip on my shoulder because I feel like you play better with that chip. You never want to get complacent.”
What do you like about playing safety?
CH: “You’re able to put your own twist on the game. At corner, you have to line up and go against that receiver right there in the scheme of the defense. But at safety you’re able to roam around, disguise as you want, as long as you’re in your spot when the play starts. You get to mess with the QB’s head a little bit. I like the trickiness about it.”
You and De’Quan Hampton engaged in some extended trash talk last week. Is that just part of your game?
CH: “Yeah. That’s good for everybody. Adoree’ (Jackson) and JuJu (Smith) started it with their talking and it elevated because De’Quan tried to attack Adoree’ and I came to Adoree’s defense because everybody was trying to attack him, and then me and (Hampton) went at it. I won the last rep and then said some things at the end I probably shouldn’t have said. But that all comes with the territory of playing football. To have that between teammates and then at the end of the day we’re still shaking hands and being best friends, that’s just going to make us better as a team.”
Do you think you would have talked like that in spring camp or is that a byproduct of you being more comfortable at your new position?
CH: “I talked like that a little bit in spring camp, against JuJu sometimes. Once I’m comfortable with what I’m doing, you’ll see a different me. You’ll see more free-range, more talking, because I feel comfortable. I feel like when my confidence is sky high, no one can beat me.”
What’s an area you’re looking to shore up before the season?
CH: “Right now it’d probably be my speed. I’m working on my speed every day. My weight is up. I’m 193 right now. I’m feeling good. I’m 193 and I feel like I’m 180. I’m bigger than I’ve ever been and I feel like I’m just as light. I’m the strongest I’ve ever been, upper body and lower body.”
Is that from your work with Ivan Lewis?
CH: “Yeah, Ivan is great. He really gets you right. He has these particular workouts for people. It really benefits us. I’ve been able to put on weight and still stay the same, how I looked last year. I put on 10 pounds. I’m faster than I’ve ever been. I’m more explosive, so I feel like I can do anything.”
