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  • Miami Hurricanes Land JUCO Tackle Jacob Hawks As The U Rebuilds Its Offensive Line

Miami Hurricanes Land JUCO Tackle Jacob Hawks As The U Rebuilds Its Offensive Line

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Football

(BCSNN) — Miami added a much‑needed piece to its offensive line overhaul Saturday, securing a commitment from junior college tackle Jacob Hawks, a 6‑foot‑9, 320‑pound lineman from Hutchinson Community College.

Hawks, a Topeka native, started every game at left tackle during his lone season at Hutchinson, helping guide the program to an 11–1 record and a runner‑up finish in the NJCAA national championship. His size, durability and production arrive at a critical moment for a Hurricanes roster replacing all five starters from last year’s College Football Playoff run.

Despite being unranked by major recruiting services, Hawks was a full academic qualifier and will be eligible to enroll at Miami this summer. He will have three years of eligibility remaining, plus a potential redshirt season.

Hawks played a central role in a Hutchinson offense that averaged 377.8 yards per game, including 171.1 rushing yards and 206.7 passing yards, while scoring nearly 40 points per contest. His work in the run game, in particular, helped establish one of the most balanced junior college attacks in the country.

Miami’s need for immediate help up front is clear. The Hurricanes lost multiple cornerstone linemen, including projected early NFL Draft pick Francis Mauigoa, after a season that included wins over Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss before a narrow 27–21 loss to Indiana in the national championship game.

As spring practice winds down, Miami’s projected offensive line features Jackson Cantwell and Matt McCoy at tackle, Samson Okunlola at left guard, Ryan Rodriguez at center and Max Buchanan competing at right guard. Hawks joins a group that also includes transfers and underclassmen such as Jamal Meriweather, SJ Alofaituli, and several freshmen.

Given Miami’s roster turnover and the staff’s willingness to play newcomers, Hawks is expected to compete for early snaps at tackle. His frame, experience and junior college production give the Hurricanes a developmental piece with the potential to contribute as soon as the season opener against Stanford on Sept. 4.