Hawkins has been getting increased reps with the first team, something that his coach says he's loving.
Sometimes, football is all about opportunity, and for SMU's Ty Hawkins, he's gotten his this offseason.
With starter Kevin Jennings still nursing a finger injury, it has been Hawkins, who was a backup last season and completed one pass, who has gotten some reps with the starters.
For a player who barely saw the field last season, to have the chance to get to work with the starters, build chemistry, and learn the playbook, you can't put a price on that.
Granted, it came because Jennings was injured, but still, Hawkins hasn't let this opportunity go to waste.
With Hawkins stating he's "grateful" for the reps and feeling more comfortable in the offense, he is off to a good start this offseason.
But how has his quarterback coach, D'Eriq King seen his young player fare?
"It's been great for Ty just to step in there and get all these reps," King said. "These reps are invaluable for him, not playing a ton of college football, being able to go behind the one offensive line, one skilled guys, going against the one defense every day, it's been great.
"It's been a lot of coaching moments off of it, but he's been thriving with the opportunity that he's been given. So, I'm proud of him. He's going to keep getting better."
Of course, this will only be a sugar hit for Hawkins, as when Jennings is healthy enough to fully practice, he'll be getting all the reps so he can be firing for the season.
But with Hawkins getting reps with the starters, it has been a chance for King and the coaching staff to evaluate him in a way they otherwise wouldn't have been able to had Jennings not been injured.
Has King been surprised by anything?
"Everybody in the building knows that Ty is very talented," King added. "Now, it's sometimes it's hard to show true leadership when you're a backup quarterback, but him stepping into this role, getting a lot of those [with] the ones like he's Ty's a dog, he has some stuff in him.
"He's a really good leader, he's been a little bit more vocal now. He's getting all those reps, and he's been practicing well. So, we all knew he's talented. It's just about him going out there and showing everybody that he can do it and be a guy."
It has been a fruitful offseason for Hawkins, and while SMU fans hope he doesn't see the field in 2026, if he somehow does, he will be in far better shape to handle what is thrown his way due to the reps he's gotten in the offseason.
Yes, Jennings is the starter, and it isn't even close, but in Hawkins, the Mustangs might just have a sneaky good backup option.
