Quick Hits: Giants Round 6 Draft Pick CB Tre Hawkins III

The Giants double-dipped into the cornerback pool. Coach Gene Clemons has a quick scouting report on their newest defensive back, Tre Hawkins III.

The New York Giants used their sixth-round pick to double-dip in the defensive backfield, selecting Tre Hawkins III, a two-year starter from down I-95 at Old Dominion University, in the sixth round. 

During the pre-draft process, the Giants used a top-30 visit on Hawkins. Many believe this pick could mean that one of the defensive backs who could provide some cap relief may be cut to provide a little flexibility, but that remains to be seen.

The physical cornerback for the Monarchs began his collegiate career at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. He played safety before transferring to ODU as a corner for his final two seasons. He adds value as a combination cornerback and safety, and he could be an immediate impact player as a potential special teamer.

The thing you notice about Hawkins immediately is that he is a tall cornerback. At 6-foot-3, he is much taller than what is considered "tall" for a cornerback in the NFL. Even though he is tall, he is well-built. 

At 195 pounds, he is a well-put-together defender with roots as a safety. Those are likely the same roots that give him his physics brand of play. His junior season, he amassed 76 tackles, which was the most in a single season by an ODU cornerback; he followed that up this past season with another 57 tackles.

His length has also been a plus as a pass defender. His long arms have been able to wrap around defenders and deflect passes. Over the past two seasons, he has 14 passes defended and two interceptions. 

He has great build-up speed, which allows him to stay in phase with accelerating receivers. Despite being so tall, he is also agile enough to get in and out of breaks to pattern match. He plays well when he can see the action before him and attack with his aggressive nature.

The level of play is always a slight concern, but when picking on day three of the draft, you don't concern yourself with the negatives associated with a player. Instead, you lock in on the positives, and in camp, you figure out if those positives are enough to overcome any possible negatives. In Hawkins's case, the issue is long or "Sunday" speed. Many evaluators don't believe he possesses the speed necessary to keep up with elite deep threats. 

While that might be true, one of his greatest qualities is his work ethic and determination. He is going to squeeze every ounce of athletic ability he possesses out. That dogged mentality ultimately got his name called in the NFL draft. That's a feat many cornerbacks who were much faster did not accomplish.

---

• Get the latest breaking news and analysis on the New York Giants
• Follow and like us on Facebook
• Submit your questions for our mailbag
• Check out the Giants Country YouTube Channel.
• Subscribe and like the LockedOn Giants YouTube Channel
• Sign up for our FREE message board forums
• Get your Giants tickets from SI Tickets!