Tayler Hawkins Season 2017

Final Bio

HONORS
* 2021 All-Mountain West Second Team
* 2020 All-Mountain West Honorable-Mention 

Athletic DB who saw action in 2017 at cornerback after redshirting in 2016 ... Was third on the depth chart at right cornerback heading into 2017, but worked himself up to the backup to senior Kameron Kelly ... Started five of the team’s 13 games in 2018 at field warrior and another five of 13 in 2019 ... Made the move back to cornerback for the 2020 campaign, working across all-MW performer Darren Hall ... Also a regular contributor on special teams ... Played in 57 games, tied with Trenton Thompson for the most on the team among 2021 Aztecs.

2021 SEASON (*SENIOR*)
Was named a second-team all-Mountain West selection by the league’s coaches and media ... Also was named to the Pro Football Focus Mountain West Team of the Year (first team) ... Was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List ... Also was chosen as a preseason second-team all-Mountain West pick by Athlon Sports, a third-team selection by Phil Steele Magazine and an honorable-mention pick by Pro Football Focus ... Named “SDSU’s player to watch” by Lindy’s Sports and “SDSU’s third-best defensive player” by College Football News ... Has 62 tackles (48 solo), a tackle for loss, two interceptions for 34 yards, 13 pass breakups, a forced fumble and two quarterback hurries in 13 starts this season ... Ranked in a tie for fourth in the Mountain West in total passes defended (INT + PBU) (13, T-20th in FBS), fifth in total pass breakups (11, T-23rd in FBS), and sixth in passes defended per game (1.00, T-27th in FBS) ... According to Pro Football Focus, he owned the second-best coverage rating in the country among defensive backs (and No. 1 in the Mountain West) (89.4. min. 500 passing snaps) ... Started for the ninth straight game and 19th time overall in the opener against New Mexico State on Sept. 4, making six tackles (three solo) and an interception ... The interception was his second in three games dating back to last season and led to a Jordon Brookshire 18-yard rushing touchdown ... Played in 73 of the 85 snaps before giving way to younger cornerbacks ... Came up with four tackles (all solo), including a 2-yard tackle for loss, in 50 of the team’s 58 snaps at Arizona on Sept. 11 ... Had another good game in a start aganst Utah on Sept. 18 with six tackles (four solo), an interception returned for 34 yards and two pass breakups ... The interception was his second of the season and third in the past five games ... The 34-yard return was the longest of his career, leading to a Greg Bell rushing touchdown ... Played 73 snaps before exiting late in the fourth quarter with a leg injury ... Missed the Towson game with an injury, snapping his streak of 47 consecutive games played ... Returned to start and play 52 of 62 snaps against New Mexico on  Oct. 9, making three solo stops and recording a pass breakup ... Came up with six tackles (five solo) and two pass breakups in a start at San José State on Oct. 15, playing 67 of the team’s 81 defensive snaps ... Had five tackles (three solo) in a start at Air Force on Oct. 23, playing 51 of the 65 snaps ... Had four tackles (two solo) and a pass breakup in a start and 64 snaps against Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Registered a season high in tackles (all solo) and a forced fumble in 64 defensive snaps at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... The forced fumble was the first of his career and was returned 13 yards by CJ Baskerville ... Came up with two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup in a start and 55 defensive snaps against Nevada on Nov. 13 ... Logged five tackles (all solo) with two pass breakups in a start at UNLV on Nov. 19, while playing in 58 of the team’s 63 snaps ... Had six tackles (four solo) in a start against Boise State on Nov. 26, tying with six others for the most on the team ... Ended up playing all 77 defensive snaps ... Had three tackles with a pass breakup in a start against Utah State in the Mountain West Championship on Dec. 4 ... Played 70 of the 74 snaps ... Had a big game against UTSA in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 21, coming up with five tackles (all solo), a career-high three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry, playing all 66 snaps.

2020 SEASON (SENIOR)
Was named an honorable-mention all-Mountain West pick as voted on by the league’s media and coaches ... Started all eight games, including the first four at boundary warrior and the final four at boundary cornerback ... Had 38 tackles (24 solo), an interception and three pass breakups ... Ranked in a tie for seventh in the Mountain West in pass breakups (3) and a tie for eighth in passes defended (INT + PBU) (4) ... Started the opener with UNLV on Oct. 24 at boundary warrior, recording one solo tackle ... Also started at warrior at Utah State on Oct. 31, where he made five tackles (three solo) with a pass breakup ... The five stops tied Andrew Aleki and Darren Hall for the most on the team ... Started for the third straight game at boundary warrior against San José State on Nov. 6, making five stops (two solo) ... Started at boundary warrior vs. Hawai’i on Nov. 14, playing one snap there before moving to cornerback ... Had six tackles (four solo) and a pass breakup ... Started at boundary cornerback for the first time of his career at Nevada on Nov. 21 and had three tackles (two solo) ... Had a season-high seven tackles (four solo) in a start at cornerback at Colorado on Nov. 28 and added a pass breakup ... Had his first career interception in a start vs. Colorado State on Dec. 5, while adding four tackles (three solo) ... Tied a season high with seven tackles (five solo) in a start at No. 14/16 Brigham Young.

2019 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Started five games on the season and played in all 13 ... Had 30 tackles (18 solo), including three tackles for loss for nine yards, and a quarterback hurry ... Started the opener against Weber State at Boundary Warrior as Kyree Woods moved to cornerback with Darren Hall out with an injury ... Finished with one solo tackle ... Had arguably the best game of his career at UCLA, making a career-high 10 tackles (seven solo), including a career-high two tackles for loss ... Led the team in tackles for the first time of his career ... Had one tackle in seven snaps off the bench at New Mexico State ... Made three snaps (one solo) in 31 snaps in a reserve role vs. Utah State ... Did not record a start in 11 snaps off the bench at Colorado State ... Earned the stat against Wyoming with Kyree Woods out for the season, making four tackles (two solo), including a 4-yard tackle for loss in 29 snaps ... Played statless time on special teams at San José State ... Had one tackle in three snaps at UNLV ... Played 44 snaps against Nevada after Trenton Thompson was ejected for targeting, but did not record a stat ... Registered three tackles (two solo) and a quarterback hurry in 29 snaps off the bench against Fresno State ... Earned the start at Hawai’i, where he had six tackles (four solo), playing all 67 snaps ... Started against Brigham Young, making one assisted stop in 11 snaps ... Did not record a stat in special teams snaps vs. Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl.

2018 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
Played in the team’s 13 games, starting five times ... Had 35 tackles (19 solo) with a tackle for loss and five pass breakups ... Led the Aztecs with six tackles on special teams and five stops on the punt return unit ... Played the opener at No. 13/13 Stanford, making two solo tackles on Aztec punts ... Had a solo stop and a pass breakup on defense against Sacramento State ... Earned his first career start vs. No. 23/25 Arizona State, making a career-high five tackles (three solo) ... Started again vs. Eastern Michigan without recording a stat ... Had four tackles and a pass breakup in 39 snaps off the bench at rv/No. 24 Boise State ... Registered five stops (four solo) with a tackle for loss against Air Force in a career-high 51 snaps ... The tackle for loss was the first of his career ... Registered two tackles (one solo) with a pass breakup in 21 snaps vs. San José State ... Played 32 snaps off the bench at Nevada, making four tackles (two solo) ... Started at New Mexico, making two tackles (one solo) with a pass breakup in 32 snaps ... Had an assisted stop on a start against UNLV, playing 16 snaps ... Came off the bench at Fresno State, recording three tackles across 29 snaps ... Made on solo tackle in eight snaps against Hawai’i ... Started against Ohio in the DXL Frisco Bowl, making five tackles and adding a pass breakup in 39 snaps.

2017 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
Played in 10 of the team's 13 games, including the final 10, mainly on special teams ... Had five tackles (three solo) ... Did not play the first three games of the season because of a knee injury, missing games vs. UC Davis, at Arizona State and against No. 19/19 Stanford ... Made a solo stop at Air Force on special teams in his first career game ... Added another solo tackle vs. Northern Illinois ... Had an assisted tackle at UNLV ... Did not make a stat in special teams play vs. Boise State, against Fresno State, at Hawai'i and at San Jose State ... Had a career-high two stops vs. Nevada ... Did not record a stat vs. New Mexico or against Army West Point in the Armed Forces Bowl.  

REDSHIRT SEASON (2016)
Redshirted his first season at San Diego State.  

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a four-year letter winner at Palm Springs High School in Palm Springs, Calif., with fellow defensive back Trenton Thompson ... Led the Indians to a 24-3 (.889) record, including a 11-1 (.917) mark in league play, over his final two years (2014-15) ... Helped the 2015 squad capture a CIF Championship ... Caught 94 passes for 1,915 yards (20.4 avg.) and 25 touchdowns over the past two years (according to MaxPreps), as well as 196 rushing yards and three more scores on 27 carries (7.3 avg.) ... Over his final three years on defense (2013-15), totaled 133 tackles (96 solo), nine interceptions, 14 pass deflections, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries ... Also punted 26 times for 962 yards (37.0 avg.) as a senior in 2015 ... Was a three-time first-team all-league selection and a two-time first-team all-CIF pick ... A three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports as an "athlete" and a three-star recruit by Scout and ESPN as a cornerback ... Ranked as the 11th-best cornerback in California by Scout and the 12th best on the West Coast ... Received a grade of 85 by 247sports and a mark of 70 by ESPN ... Was also on the track and field team at PSHS.

PERSONAL
Tayler Colby Hawkins was born Dec. 27, 1997, in Palm Springs, Calif. ... Son of Kevin Hawkins and LaWanda Roy ... Picked the Aztecs over Arizona State, Colorado, Colorado State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Jose State, UNLV, Washington, Washington State and Wyoming ... Is majoring in sociology.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 10 at UCLA (9/7/19)
Tackles For Loss: 2.0 at UCLA (9/7/19)
Interceptions: 1 vs. Utah (9/18/21), vs. New Mexico State (9/4/21), vs. Colorado State (12/5/20)
Pass Breakups: 3 vs. UTSA (12/21/21)
Forced Fumbles: 1 at Hawai’i (11/6/21)