Miami Hurricanes land 6-foot-9 JUCO tackle

Junior college tackle Jacob Hawks, a 6-foot-9, 320-pound lineman from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, committed to the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday. A native of Topeka, Hawks started every game at left tackle during his sole season with Hutchinson, helping lead the program to an 11-1 record and a runner-up finish in the junior college national championship.

Hawks played an essential role in an offense that produced 377.8 yards per game, including 171.1 rushing yards and 206.7 passing yards, while averaging 39.8 points. His contributions up front were crucial in establishing a balanced and productive attack, particularly in the run game, where Hutchinson averaged over 170 yards per outing.

Despite being unranked by major recruiting platforms, Hawks arrives as a full academic qualifier and is eligible to enroll at Miami this summer. He will have three years of eligibility remaining, along with a potential redshirt season. His arrival comes at a crossroads for the Hurricanes, which is undergoing a complete overhaul on the offensive line after losing all five starters from last season.

Miami’s previous unit was a huge factor in their run to the College Football Playoff national championship game, where they fell 27-21 to Indiana after wins over Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. However, departures of core linemen, including projected early NFL Draft pick Francis Mauigoa, have left multiple starting roles open.

As spring practice nears its conclusion, the Hurricanes’ projected offensive line includes Jackson Cantwell and Matt McCoy at tackle, Samson Okunlola at left guard, Ryan Rodriguez at center, and Max Buchanan competing at right guard. Hawks joins a group that also features transfers and underclassmen such as Jamal Meriweather, SJ Alofaituli, and several freshmen.

Hawks is expected to compete for immediate playing time at tackle. His size, experience, and production at the junior college level position him as a potential contributor heading into Miami’s season opener against Stanford on September 4.

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