Louisville star RB Javian Hawkins opts out of season to prepare for NFL draft
Louisville's star running back Javian Hawkins has decided to opt out of the rest of the 2020 season, he announced Monday morning.
Hawkins, a native of Titusville, Florida, will finish the fall semester at Louisville and prepare for the 2021 NFL draft, he said.
In the last two seasons, Hawkins has established himself as one of the best running backs in the country. Jumping onto the season as a redshirt freshman last season, Hawkins received All-ACC honors after rushing for 1,525 yards and nine touchdowns.
He was off to a strong start this season before not playing against Virginia. He tallied 822 yards and seven touchdowns.
He'll go down as one of the most accomplished running backs in Louisville history, record wise. The redshirt sophomore ends his Louisville career 10th in rushing yards with 2,355 and is third on the single-season rushing list after his stellar redshirt freshman season. The only person who has rushed for more yards in a single season was Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson, who ran for 1,571 yards in 2016 and 1,601 in 2017.
Hawkins is also fifth in Louisville history with 5.9 yards per carry in his career. Known for his explosiveness at Louisville, he was always one of the best running backs in the country for big runs. This season, he led the country in runs of 70 yards or more, with three. No other player in the country had more than one.
He is third on the single-season rushing list with 1,525 yards in 2019 and fifth in career yards per carry at 5.9.
With Hawkins gone, the running back spot is up for grabs at Louisville. Maurice Burkely started on Saturday and tallied 44 yards against the Cavaliers, but redshirt freshman Jalen Mitchell played and tallied 76 yards, including a 50-yard run on his first carry of the game. Backup running back Hassan Hall has missed the last three games with an injury, but would take the starting spot if he is healthy.
Louisville will play Syracuse at 7 p.m. Friday.
Follow Cameron Teague Robinson on Twitter: @cj_teague.