A.J. Hawk

Regarded by many as the best defensive player in college football, the two-time All-American was a model of consistency throughout his Buckeyes career. He led the team in tackles in each of his three seasons as a starter, rightfully taking his place alongside other OSU standout All-American linebackers ? Ike Kelley (All-American in 1964-65), Randy Gradisher (1972-73), Tom Cousineau (1977-78), Pepper Johnson (1985), Chris Spielman (1987 Lombardi Award), Steve Tovar (1991-92), Andy Katzenmoyer (1997 Butkus Award) and Na'il Diggs (1999). Hawk missed much of his senior year because of injury, but still finished the campaign with 82 tackles at Centerville High School. He was rated the 30th-best middle linebacker in the prep ranks by Rivals.com and finished his career with 585 tackles (142 as a freshman, 192 as a sophomore and 169 as a junior). He also averaged over 40 yards as a punter his senior year. Hawk played point guard on the basketball team as a freshman and sophomore. Hawk lined up behind Cie Grant on OSU's depth chart at weak-side linebacker in 2002. The true freshman recorded 26 tackles (13 solos) with an assisted sack, 3.5 stops for losses and two interceptions, returning one for a score. The OSU scholar-athlete moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore. He led the Buckeyes with 106 tackles (52 solos) and had four sacks with thirteen stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also intercepted two passes and batted away five others. Hawk was a consensus All-American selection and team defensive MVP in 2004. He became just the fifth Buckeye to register 20 or more tackles in a game (vs. Wisconsin) as he registered a career-high 141 tackles 962 solos), the most hits by an OSU player in a season since Chris Spielman posted 156 in 1986. He also made eight stops for losses while causing and recovering a fumble. He again had two interceptions and deflected five passes in twelve games. Hawk again garnered All-American first-team honors in 2005. He added All-Big Ten Conference first-team accolades and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year by the media. He captured the Lombardi Trophy and was chosen team MVP. Hawk led OSU with 121 tackles (69 solos) and 16.5 stops for losses. He tied for the team lead with 9.5 sacks, intercepted a pass and deflected three others. He caused two fumbles, recovered another and blocked a punt that he returned for a touchdown. In 51 games at Ohio State, Hawk started 38 times. He was the first OSU defender since Steve Tovar (1990-92) to lead the team in tackles three-straight seasons, as his 394 tackles (196 solos) fell just shy of him becoming the fifth player in school history to record 400 tackles in a career. He had 15.5 sacks for minus 114 yards and 41 stops for losses of 164 yards (sixth-best career total in OSU annals). He caused three fumbles, recovered two others and blocked a punt for an 8-yard score. He also had seven interceptions for 123 yards in returns and a touchdown while also deflecting thirteen passes.

positives

Has a thick upper body with broad shoulders, tight waist, good bubble and excellent timed speed for his position...Has loose hips and above average balance, keeping his feet on the move...Shows natural knee bend and has a sudden burst coming off the edge to defeat the lethargic offensive tackle (see 2005 Texas game vs. Jonathan Scott)...Understanding blocking schemes and is quick to locate the ball...Very capable of taking his impressive weight room totals and translating it into his play on the field...Can shed blocks consistently and has the upper body power to create a pile...Tough inside force vs. the run who moves well through traffic to locate the ball...Plays at a low pad level and uses his hands effectively to reroute the tight end...Has fluid and explosive range outside the box, using his hands to sift through traffic and generates the burst needed to play on the edge...Has excellent speed to close on the ball, demonstrating the balance and body control, along with quick feet to move down the line...Big hitter who will strike with force and has the strength to explode behind his tackles...Has the athletic agility, loose hips, valid speed and a strong desire to take on receivers in man coverage...Plays with a quick, controlled backpedal, showing the looseness in his hips to open and play the ball...

gets very good depth in his pass drops and does a fine job of reading the quarterback and reacting to the ball, using his leaping ability and timing to break up the pass...does a good job of reaching and plucking the ball away from his frame...moves forward with quickness and good urgency on the blitz and has above average flexibility to counter blocks and close on the passer.

Negatives

hawk plays at a high intensity level, showing good urgency closing on the play and pressuring the pocket. he developed more effective swim and rip moves to get an edge on the offensive tackle and the result was 9.5 sacks in 2005. he plays with true aggression and while he sometimes gets reckless in his play, he will hit with authority. his range and lateral agility is the best i've seen in a linebacker outside of brian urlacher and much like the bears standout, he has the natural knee bend to deliver punishing shots when tackling.

Hawk has the range to work down the line and generates a very strong hand punch to push the pocket. He is effective at jamming and rerouting tight ends and runners coming out of the backfield and has enough valid speed to stay on the hip of receivers past the intermediate area.

hawk is an outstanding blitzer who has the natural feet and hip explosion to constantly disrupt the backfield. he is so instinctive that he has a knack for getting into the pocket almost at will. he closes with good urgency and does a very good job of breaking down and wrap tackling when working in space. he is better on the move than when asked to take on blockers working in-line, as he does not have the size or wide base to maintain his position at the point of attack, especially vs. double teams.

Hawk has nice pass rush moves and charges aggressively coming off the edge. He also shows valid hand extension to reach and pluck the ball at its high point. Much like David Pollack (Bengals), he simply has a natural feel and flow for the ball. He is an excellent sideline-to-sideline player who needs to be accounted for whenever on the field. With improved lower body strength and a better base, he will be as close to a complete line-backer as one can find.

generally alert player, but can get a little reckless in his play and over-pursue, especially on run fakes and play action...very combative with his hands, but does not have that strong lower body power needed to hold ground at the point of attack vs. larger blockers...attacks with good aggression, but a lack of ideal size will see him get bounced out of the rush lanes when trying to fill working in-line...needs to play with a wider base to prevent offensive tackles from washing him out along the edge.

Hawk is a punishing open field tackler with valid speed and explosion for his position. He is a bit on the short side, but compensates with excellent acceleration and outstanding read-and-react ability. He has the strength to explode into ball carriers and takes good angles in pursuit to string plays out. He has above average upper body power, but could use more lower body strength, as he plays with a narrow base and can be washed out by the larger offensive tackles if they lock on to him coming off the edge.

No injuries at Ohio State, but missed most of his 2001 high school season with a knee injury.

Campus: 4.53 in the 40-yard dash

395-pound bench press

670-pound squat

390-pound power clean

37-inch vertical jump

32-inch arm length

9 ½-inch hands

Right-handed

21/39 Wonderlic score.

Attended Centerville (Oh.) High School, playing football for head coach Ron Vilery

Missed much of his senior year because of injury, but still finished the campaign with 82 tackles

Rated the 30th-best middle linebacker in the prep ranks by Rivals.com

Finished his career with 585 tackles (142 as a freshman, 192 as a sophomore and 169 as a junior)

Also averaged over 40 yards as a punter his senior year

Played point guard on the basketball team as a freshman and sophomore.

Criminology major

Practices yoga, which he lists as one of the biggest risks he has taken

Older brother, Ryan, was the starting quarterback at Ohio University (2001-04)

Son of Judy and Keith Hawk

Born 1/06/84

Resides in Centerville, Ohio.