STRENGTHS - Hawkinson has a quick first step off the snap, which allows him to get into his man and into the 2nd level quickly. He flashes the ability to lock out and get his feet around on seal blocks, as well as the ability to sink his hips to absorb contact. He is an effective drive blocker because he is aggressive with his hands and keeps his feet moving.
WEAKNESSES - Hawkinson may have good measurables for the next level, but he looks sloppy and out of shape. He does not use his length effectively, as he tends to grab his man outside his pads which allows the defender to get into his framework and dictate play. He does not play with consistent knee bend and leverage, and tends to bend at the waist and lean into blocks. This causes him to fall off blocks early and struggle to breakdown and maintain his balance against quicker moving targets. He is consistently jolted off the snap by aggressive punches, and appears to be lacking in terms of core strength.
SUMMARY - Tanner Hawkinson first caught my eye during Shrine game practices, as he impressed with his quickness but struggled with his consistency due to poor lower body flexibility and natural strength. Often times, prospects look very different on film than they do at All Star games, but this was not the case with Hawkinson. On film he demonstrated the same quickness off the snap and ability to shuffle effectively to the edge, as well as the stiffness that causes him to bend at the waist and struggle to change directions both out in space and against counter-moves in pass pro. He is clearly a developmental prospect for the next level, but he is worth a late round selection because of his combination of size and foot quickness. If he can improve his level of strength as well as show more consistency in his ability to bend his knees and redirect, he could develop into a solid backup guard capable of starting in spots.