Every fall camp usually brings a breakout player or two who claims a larger role than expected based on where they were at the end of spring practice.
So far, the player who fits that billing the most appears to be Marcellous Hawkins, the transfer running back from Division II program Central Missouri.
Head coach Brent Pry was quick to mention how Hawkins was already having a great fall camp.
“Hawkins right now has had a great camp,” Pry said.
The Hokies’ head coach expanded on what specifically Hawkins has shown and done to impress him, which included the promise he showed once he got healthy this spring.
“He battled through an injury early spring, and when he finally got healthy, he showed us he’s a hard runner, he’s got an explosive step to him, real eagerness,” Pry said.
Offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery also was impressed by the fight that Hawkins showed this past spring even amidst the injury he was dealing with.
“The thing that I appreciated about Hawkins in the spring was, he was battling some things, but he was in there every day,” Montgomery said.
This summer, Hawkins stepped his physical and athletic development up to take his game to the next level while also getting more comfortable in the Hokies’ offense. That work is now paying off as Pry shared.
