Louisville RB Javian Hawkins opts out; will prepare for NFL

Javian Hawkins has finished his playing career at Louisville; the star running back will opt out for the remainder of the 2020 season and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Hawkins was one of seven Louisville players “unavailable” to play on Saturday at Virginia. Dynamic slot receiver Tutu Atwell also missed the game, which Louisville lost 31-17.

Hawkins currently leads the ACC in rushing yards per game (117.4), while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Hawkins ranks third in the league with 822 total rushing yards. The All-ACC back broke the news on Twitter.

Over the last two seasons, the 5-foot-10 Hawkins emerged as one of the ACC’s most scintillating and reliable playmakers.

During his redshirt freshman season in 2019, Hawkins ran 1,525 yards and nine touchdowns — 117.3 yards per game, second most in the ACC. That season, Hawkins posted eight 100-yard rushing games, including seven performances with 120 or more yards — tied for sixth most in the FBS.

When Hawkins ran for 129 yards against Clemson, he snapped a 27-game streak of the Tigers not allowing a 100-yard rusher.

Following a surprisingly solid 2019 season — Scott Satterfield’s first with the program — expectations were high for Louisville in 2020. However, a challenging season amidst a global pandemic has hit Louisville hard.

After the loss in Charlottesville, Louisville is 2-6 overall; the team’s lone ACC win came against a rebuilding Florida State team in October.

 

Read More on Javian Hawkins and Louisville Athletics

What Louisville will miss most with C Malik Williams out