February 15th, 2024 at 3:30 PM ^
Undrafted out of college, spent two years getting cut by the Falcons and Patriots.
Prime example of how experience in the secondary helps immensely. Hope he can help our safety-heavy roster become stars
February 15th, 2024 at 3:46 PM ^
Wow he wasn't drafted ? He seemed to have a surefire NFL athletic attributes, that didn't quite know the game yet.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:54 PM ^
I remember him getting outrun by one of Rutgers' running backs. Maybe Isaiah Pacheco?
edit: It was Raheem Blackshear.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:56 PM ^
Yeah he didn't have the measurables. He was one of those guys who played for a long time because he was smart and got in the right place, but I recall him not being fast.
February 15th, 2024 at 4:32 PM ^
Being smart is a good thing. But, at the professional level - certain things can't be overcome - and, not being fast enough in a 40 is unfortunately for Brad - one of them.
Wishing Brad nothing but success while back at Michigan and wherever his future takes him.
Go Blue!
February 15th, 2024 at 7:31 PM ^
He can teach our fast players the wisdom side of it. Seems like a good addition.
February 16th, 2024 at 2:45 AM ^
I've always thought the best coaches are the ones that are generally the least athletic but learned how to adjust and make up for it in other ways. They know from personal experience what it takes to be successful and then pass that on to even the uber athletic.
February 15th, 2024 at 6:05 PM ^
He played college ball well despite lack of speed because he is smart and knew how to make the correct reads, recognized tells. etc. Which means he will be a valuable resource.
February 15th, 2024 at 7:39 PM ^
That was a bad year
February 15th, 2024 at 4:50 PM ^
I saw him as more opposite this. Very on top of how to play the game, but not a top end athlete
February 15th, 2024 at 4:56 PM ^
"Very on top of how to play the game." A fine compliment for a GA / coach.
I'm sure he'll relate to the players well and make a notable contribution / difference. Those on the roster will have a great opportunity to learn. And, I'm hoping his time as a GA positions him for a role on Michigan's - or perhaps the Ravens / Chargers / Seahawks - staff - in the future.
Go Blue!
February 15th, 2024 at 7:07 PM ^
iirc, he never recorded an INT. weird given all the games he played.
February 15th, 2024 at 10:53 PM ^
But he had the ultimate strip against Nebraska
February 16th, 2024 at 9:01 AM ^
Brad Hawkins good college player but struggled when faced with elite players. That isn't a knock as few are elite. Earlier in his career he had the unenviable task where Don Brown would line him up in Man Coverage over elite speed rec's in the slot.. WTF was he thinking because it worked against Indiana and Rutgers it was never going to work against Osu or anyone else with an elite rec. That's not on the player that's on the staff. MacDonald never did that. He kept DJ Turner and his fastest corners on speed rec's and kept his safeties in zone when the speed rec's went to the slot.
Hawkins properly developed and shows how well they can play as evidenced by the 2021 osu game he had 7 tackles a season high against the nfl rec corp.. that is what a good player does put in the right position!
February 15th, 2024 at 3:34 PM ^
Does anyone else find it weird that WD is the main quoted source for this story?
February 15th, 2024 at 3:38 PM ^
WD is Conor Stallions.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:38 PM ^
I'm pretty sure Stallion is WD
February 15th, 2024 at 7:26 PM ^
Finkle is Einhorn, for sure!
February 15th, 2024 at 3:43 PM ^
Everything about that site feels weird.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:50 PM ^
Weird? No.. Ironic? Yes
I mean if there's anybody who has their ear to the ground on the machinations of Michigan athletics it's WD.
February 15th, 2024 at 4:01 PM ^
The *only* quoted source for the story. It's his tweet, which quotes another of his tweets.
February 15th, 2024 at 4:09 PM ^
Sam is the main source for the story:
"Sam Webb posted about Brad Hawkins, who had a stint in the NFL, will be returning to Ann Arbor."
WolverineDevotee just got the honor of being a representative example of: "It is now making its way through the internet:"
February 15th, 2024 at 4:42 PM ^
I miss WD and his apparel & non-revenue team threads.
And I especially miss his ability to get our athletic director fired. That skill set would be VERY helpful right about now.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:44 PM ^
It's time to bring him back!
Moms?!?!?!?
February 15th, 2024 at 9:36 PM ^
I occasionally look at WD's twitter posts and I'm pretty certain he has moved on for good.
Based upon the bridges he proudly burned after his fallout here, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't come back no matter how large the "Welcome back WD!" banner.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:31 PM ^
Hawkins undoubtedly contacted WD to find out what he should wear.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:40 PM ^
wait, i thought he was Feagin
February 15th, 2024 at 3:55 PM ^
Sounds good.
February 15th, 2024 at 3:58 PM ^
Hawkins is a pure winner. Will never forget his strip/fumble recovery in the Nebraska game that probably saved our season and enabled this program to break the Big Ten championship drought. That will always get my vote as play of the year for the 2021 season. Love his addition.
February 15th, 2024 at 4:17 PM ^
Looks like we found Hawkins' MGoBlog account. HA!
All kidding aside I love this move!
February 17th, 2024 at 8:54 PM ^
Besides, he's not the real Euchre Champ---he hasn't played against me!
February 15th, 2024 at 4:27 PM ^
Also had a huge 4th and goal stop on Nebraska's first drive that game taking on a blocker and escorting poor Adrian Martinez out of bounds
February 16th, 2024 at 4:54 AM ^
Adrian Martinez - the first and only 30 year old to play college football
February 15th, 2024 at 4:15 PM ^
His story is amazing. Committed during our NJ pipeline era, but had to do a prep year due to admissions issue. Came a year later than his class. Contributer, to starter, to leader on Big Ten championship team.
Excited for what he can bring as a coach!
February 15th, 2024 at 4:35 PM ^
I always remember him first for his dropped INT in the end zone against ND, before being pleasantly reminded of his game saving strip sack vs Nebraska.
February 16th, 2024 at 8:33 AM ^
He was in on that play only because of that BS targeting call on one of our starting safeties... Metellus???
February 15th, 2024 at 4:44 PM ^
This is big.
Let's freaking GO.
Go Blue!
February 15th, 2024 at 4:50 PM ^
Saved Michigan's bacon in that 2021 Nebraska game.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:06 PM ^
Nice to see a new generation of coaches coming through the Michigan player ranks.
February 15th, 2024 at 5:11 PM ^
We had a bit of a pipeline to southern NJ for a while (Hawkins is from Camden). Would be nice if he could help re-establish that.
February 16th, 2024 at 4:55 AM ^
Luckily, in the time since, Rutgers has never quite managed to fence the garden
February 15th, 2024 at 7:28 PM ^
Always remember Hawkins’ strip and recovery @Nebraska in ‘21. Crucial turnover!!
February 15th, 2024 at 11:17 PM ^
Saved the 2021 Nebraska game. Heck of a player who stuck around after having to take a prep year, switching positions, an MIA position coach and 2020. So glad for guys like him who got payoff for all the shit they had to go through