Get to know Titusville (Fla.) Cocoa four-star safety Cedrick Hawkins, who signed his national letter of intent with Ohio State on Wednesday.
Height, Weight: 6-0, 175.
247 Composite Rankings: He’s rated as the 283rd overall recruit, 25th-best safety and No. 51 prospect out of Florida in the class.
Commitment Date: Hawkins committed to Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2022.
Other Offers: Arizona State, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Florida, FAU, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi State, Nebraska, Mississippi, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, UCF, USF, Washington State, West Virginia
How he did in high school: Hawkins was a four-year contributor for Cocoa, and even played significant snaps as a freshman — earning a Florida Today All-Space Coast First Team selection during his first season at the high school level.
Hawkins registered 117 tackles, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions during his junior season. As a senior, Hawkins produced 55 tackles, four pass breakups, an interception and a pair of blocked field goals.
Why he committed to Ohio State: Hawkins locked in his commitment to Ohio State during the Buckeyes 48-45 victory over Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl and said that OSU’s ability to comeback in that game actually played a role in his commitment.
Outside of the Rose Bowl win, Hawkins also pointed to his comfort level with those inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center as another draw to the Buckeyes.
“I choose Ohio State because I fit the scheme well and I love the area,” Hawkins told Spectrum News 13 in Orlando (Fla.). “I love the coaches and when I went up there the 1st three times, it felt like home and I felt like I was making the right decision.”
Where he fits in for 2023: Hawkins is in a similar situation to fellow 2023 safety signees West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West four-star Malik Hartford and Hillside (N.J.) St. Peters Prep four-star Jayden Bonsu, who will join a safeties room that will be losing plenty with Ronnie Hickman and Tanner McCalister finishing their college careers after Ohio State’s College Football Playoff run. Lathan Ransom will also have the opportunity to enter the NFL Draft in the offseason, but is yet to announce his decision regarding his future.
