Vincent Hawkins Season 1991

1992 (Senior)
Vincent Hawkins earned a starting role at wingback for the Huskers as a senior in his third season at Nebraska in 1992. Hawkins played in all 11 regular-season games and the 1993 Federal Express Orange Bowl against Florida State, when he had two receptions for 18 yards and one unassisted tackle. He helped Nebraska capture its second straight Big Eight title. Hawkins earned six starts as a senior, while sophomore Abdul Muhammad made three starts. NU twice started in two-tight end sets. Hawkins finished fifth on the team with 10 receptions for 137 yards. He added three carries for 24 yards on the season. An outstanding blocker, Hawkins helped Nebraska to its second straight NCAA rushing title by averaging 328.2 yards per game. NU also ranked second nationally in scoring (38.8 ppg).

A two-time letterman, Hawkins played 22 regular-season games as a Husker and hauled in 13 receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown. A former high school and junior college running back, he added five carries for 36 yards in his NU career.

1991 (Junior)
After sitting out as a redshirt in 1990, Hawkins teamed with Abdul Muhammad to give Nebraska quality depth at wingback behind starter Nate Turner. Hawkins caught three passes for 55 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown from Mickey Joseph in NU’s season-opening win over Utah State. He also rushed two times for nine yards and returned two kickoffs for 38 yards. He added one assisted tackle on special teams. Nebraska won a share of the Big Eight title and earned a trip to the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl to face Miami. Hawkins had one reception for nine yards against the Hurricanes. The Huskers also won the NCAA rushing title by averaging 353.2 yards per game, while ranking third nationally in both total offense (506.5 ypg) and scoring (41.3 ppg).

1990 (Redshirt)
Hawkins redshirted after transferring to Nebraska from Spokane Falls Community College in Washington.

Spokane Falls Community College
A two-time all-league running back for Coach John Buck at Spokane Falls CC, Hawkins rushed for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games as a sophomore in 1989. He also caught 17 passes for 236 yards and three more scores, including two last-minute, game-winning touchdowns. A third-team junior college All-American, Hawkins also had 313 yards on 16 kickoff returns as a sophomore. Originally a candidate to walk on at Washington State in 1988, Hawkins was a non-qualifier under NCAA Proposition 48 guidelines. He then enrolled at Spokane Falls instead and rushed for 1,232 yards and 10 TDs for the Sasquatch as a freshman in the fall of 1987.

St. Augustine High School
Hawkins earned two letters for Coach Tony Biagas as a running back at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. He was a high school teammate of fellow Huskers Tyrone Hughes and David White. Hawkins also played for former Husker Burton Burns, who was an assistant coach at St. Augustine.

Personal
The son of Mr. and Mrs. William Lee Hawkins, Vincent was born in Independence, Mo. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. He also had a daughter, Dominique. Vincent earned his bachelor’s degree as a secondary education major at Nebraska. He added a master’s degree in ministry from Rochester University in 2019, before earning a second master’s degree in peace studies and conflict resolution from Lipscomb University in 2022. He has been a minister and evangelist for more than 20 years.