Lavelle Hawkins life and biography

PRO:
Wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins received valuable experience in his first two NFL seasons and is poised to make a significant jump in his third campaign. The shifty wideout posted seven receptions in both 2008 and 2009 as he grew into the Titans offense and showed signs of the reputation he earned at California as a dependable, sure-handed receiver who would make difficult catches in critical moments.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• In 2009, Hawkins caught seven passes for 110 yards.
• In 2008 pre-draft workouts, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Hawkins was raised primarily by his grandmother, Janet Curley, in the Sierra Vista housing projects in Stockton due to the death of his father when he was only 18 months old and his mother “going through some things” during his childhood.
• Hawkins endured a long road to eventually find athletic and academic success at Cal. He worked tirelessly with a tutor in high school to become eligible for NCAA Division I sports and eventually enrolled at Louisiana State University in the summer of 2004. However, after LSU’s first game he decided he needed to be closer to home and transferred to City College of San Francisco for one season. He then was offered a scholarship at Cal beginning in 2005, and his dream of playing major college football was fulfilled. As a senior, he earned Cal’s Dink Artal award as the player showing academic commitment and improvement, and he is within a few credits of receiving his degree.
• Hawkins and former Titans running back Chris Henry were football and track teammates at Edison High School in Stockton, Calif.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Stockton, Calif., native was selected by the Titans in the fourth round (126th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE:
• In 35 games (10 starts) at Cal, moved into 10th place in school history with 136 career receptions for 1,748 yards and 12 touchdowns. Additionally, he totaled 49 kickoff returns for 1,051 yards and one touchdown.
• As senior (2007), was second-team All-Pac 10 selection and earned team’s Dink Artal award as player showing special academic commitment and improvement. Played in all 13 games (two starts) and led Bears with 72 receptions (fourth in Pac 10 with 5.53/game) and 872 receiving yards (third in Pac 10 with 67.1 per game). Finished fourth in conference with 1,854 all-purpose yards, third-best season total in school history.
• As junior (2006), earned honorable mention All-Pac 10 honors after finishing second on team with 46 receptions for 705 yards (15.3 avg.) and five touchdowns.
• As sophomore (2005), played nine games with three starts in first season at California. Finished season with 18 receptions for 171 yards (9.5 avg.) and one touchdown.
• As freshman (2004), enrolled at LSU for summer camp but then transferred after one game to City College of San Francisco. Appeared in seven games at City College and caught 23 passes for 525 yards (22.8 avg) and four touchdowns.
• Majored in social welfare at Cal.

PERSONAL:

• Single, splits time between Nashville and Stockton, Calif.
• Named Parade All-American and Stockton Record’s Area Player of the Year at Edison (Stockton, Calif.) High School, where he gained more than 1,000 yards receiving and 800 yards rushing as a senior. Caught 53 passes for nearly 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns as junior, adding 75 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two sacks at free safety.
• Hosts an annual youth football camp in Stockton.
• List of favorites: (movies) “300” and “Shooter”; (TV shows) “The Boondocks,” “Martin” and “The Jamie Foxx Show”; (actor) Denzel Washington; (music artist) Lyfe Jennings; (school subject) math; (car) a chopper; (video games) Call of Duty 4 and NCAA Football; (sports heroes) John Randle, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens; and (food) Mexican food.
• Born Lavelle Lamar Hawkins on July 12, 1986 in Stockton, Calif.

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