The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Georgia Tech tight end Jackson Hawes plans on taking full advantage. Hawes recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Hawes also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, crafting his advanced skill set as an expert in-line blocker, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Hawes better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Jackson Hawes: I was actually visiting Nashville with some of my buddies. An agent called me to break the news. I responded so enthusiastically. I was really and totally taken aback. At the time, I didn’t even have another Bowl invite. The Senior Bowl was my first one.
I was so stoked. I was in the car with a bunch of my buddies. I told them the news and they were so happy for me. It was a lot of fun. I think I spent the next half hour calling my friends and family to break the news to them. I was so stoked, man.
JM: What a special story. You earned that invite. It doesn’t sound like it took much, but what motivated you to accept the invite?
Jackson Hawes: The Senior Bowl is the best pre-draft bowl game. It’s where the best prospects go. All of the NFL scouts are going to be there. It’s the pre-draft event with the most eyes and talent present.
I just felt like in order for me to be successful while taking this next step in my career, I wanted to put myself in positions to be around good talent. It was an easy “yes” for me. It was a no-brainer to accept the invite.
JM: What are you looking to prove to general managers and scouts when you get in front of those evaluators in Mobile?
Jackson Hawes: I want to prove that I can bring unique characteristics to their team. I’m a guy who can help our offense thrive from a variety of formations and looks. I can block any position on the field. I can run good routes and make plays.
I run defenders over when I have the ball in my hands. I want to really show that to the scouts. I want it to be known at the Senior Bowl. When draft day comes, whoever picks me is going to know they got a good one.
JM: You’re the best blocking tight end in this class. Talk to me about what you really enjoy about doing the dirty work and being a selfless player in the trenches.
Jackson Hawes: It’s fun, man. It’s the only situation in life that it’s acceptable to get violent with someone (laughs).
I told Jim Nagy and his staff this. I have a big fascination and liking with the movie Gladiator. We as a society enjoy watching violence in appropriate settings. That’s one of the reasons I really love football. It’s an opportunity to go out and perform in front of tens of thousands in the crowd, and millions on TV.
We’re violent in a big arena-like setting. It’s a chance to go toe-to-toe with another man. The human is the greatest opponent you can have. You have to use tactics, force, violence, strength, grit, and determination to tip the game in your favor.
You have to use all of those things throughout the course of a game to ensure success and dominate.
JM: That’s a phenomenal answer. Your mentality as a blocker is truly rare. Do you get any inspiration from tight ends at the next level? Do you watch tape on any pro tight ends?
Jackson Hawes: I’ve always been a Baltimore Ravens fan. I really like Mark Andrews. He does a great job putting himself in good positions. To be honest, you can learn a lot by just watching tape on Baltimore’s tight ends.
All three of their tight ends, Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, you can learn something. They’re all great blockers. Likely came in as a pass catcher, but watch him on the perimeter. He’s not afraid to put his facemask through anybody's chest.
Kolar is really good in the trenches as a true “Y” tight end. And of course, Andrews does a little bit of both. I watch those guys over the course of a season. They give me great inspiration to know I can do the same thing.
JM: They provide great examples to follow. What’s on Jackson Hawes’ pre-game playlist? You’re such a physical guy. What gets you pumped?
Jackson Hawes: To be honest with you, I need to tone it down pre-game (laughs). I don’t need to listen to anything to get me going. The playlist has more chill, laid-back music. This might sound weird, but I’ll listen to Sade. I listen to late 90s R&B and soul.
I’ll also listen to light electronic music, light background music to really help me focus. It’s about bringing my nerves down. I don’t need anything to get me going.
JM: This has been so awesome. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Jackson Hawes?
Jackson Hawes: A successful Senior Bowl in my eyes means I had a lot of fun. It means I went out there and played loose. I’m not going to be nervous. I’m going to have a bunch of successful interviews in the meeting room with the scouts.
I’m going to put my best foot forward. From what I've heard, it’s a long week with the meetings, practices, interviews, and rehab stuff. It’s a big week for me to learn and grow. It’s a great opportunity for me to grow as a football player and as a man.
I just want to look back [on the Senior Bowl] and know I did my best for that seven-day span. I’m going to give it my all. What does that look like on the field? It means I was aggressive when there’s a contested ball opportunity. It also means I ran clean routes.
Of course, I won’t be afraid to stick my facemask through someone’s chest, either.
