'Undersized' Hawkins eyes starting linebacker position

CLEMSON -- Corico Hawkins rattles off the dimensions without hesitation: 5-9, 225 pounds.

The measurables are not Hawkins' own, rather the playing weight of late NFL star Sam Mills, nicknamed "The Field Mouse."

Hawkins is familiar with the exploits of Mills because they share a similar playing size. Hawkins is generously listed at 6-feet tall and 225 pounds. And Hawkins is familiar with Mills because he is evidence a middle linebacker can be productive without archetypal build.

Despite lacking prototype size, Hawkins might be the answer at middle linebacker for Clemson this fall, a critical position serving as the quarterback of Kevin Steele's complex defense.

After the Tigers' run defense struggled down the stretch last season, Hawkins started his first game at middle linebacker in

the Music City Bowl as a freshman. This spring he has worked as the starting middle linebacker.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Hawkins' "arrow continues to go up" this spring, though Swinney called the middle linebacker spot a competitive situation Monday and to not "count out" incumbent Brandon Maye. Maye, also working at weakside linebacker, returned to full contact in practice last week after recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot.

Maye is the larger specimen, but Hawkins is out to prove his size won't prevent him from starting this fall.

"I'm a small linebacker, so I have to be physical, technically sound and smart," Hawkins said. "I have leverage over everyone and I am faster than almost everyone. So I have to use that to my advantage."

Hawkins has heard that he's too small before. He'll hear it again.

And when asked about his size, he appears either insulted or simply tired of hearing about his perceived liabilities.

Steele would prefer a 6-3, 250-pound middle linebacker who can run like a free safety.

But if Hawkins starts for Clemson, it wouldn't be the first time Steele has employed an undersized middle linebacker to quarterback his defense.

At Florida State, Steele coached Mills and Buster Davis (6-1, 207 pounds).

"(Hawkins) is a lot like Buster Davis was at Florida State," Steele said. "He's instinctively a smart guy. He plays with good leverage, good hip explosion."

Steele says if you can play, you can play -- and there isn't much from preventing Hawkins from at least being an oft-deployed reserve.

Clemson has only eight linebackers on its roster until prized recruit Justin Parker arrives on campus -- and Parker does have near prototype size (6-3, 230) and speed (4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash).

Additional coverage
Clemson Tigers

While young players like Quandon Christian and Tig Willard have shown promise at strongside and weakside linebacker this spring, the competition at middle linebacker is between Hawkins, possibly Parker, and Maye, who is hoping to retain his starting position from last fall.

To retain to his starting job, Maye said Steele wants the junior to focus on shedding blocks and just being a "playmaker," which is what Clemson is seeking from the position, regardless of the package.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks.