What can Courtney Hawkins provide for Jonathan Smith and MSU?

Courtney Hawkins has officially been hired as Jonathan Smith’s receivers coach. What can he bring to the new staff?

Michigan State announced the hiring of Courtney Hawkins to Jonathan Smith’s coaching staff Monday afternoon. As Michigan State football and head coach Jonathan Smith have been churning out new hires, there are many new faces and names to the program’s staff.

Hawkins’ hiring, or better described retainment, brings familiarity to the program as his role as the Wide Receivers coach will continue. With social media blurring the lines between reality and speculation, Hawkins future with the program was at the forefront of those rumors, as it was unclear until the announcement on Monday afternoon.

It’s an important hire, and for several reasons, but for starters, it’s a familiar name for the Spartans.

A bridge for new staff

Coach Hawkins comes with a laundry list of accolades and history at Michigan State. This is a hire fans have been hoping for, as he can help bridge the gap between Smith and the previous regime. A point of conversation amongst some is Smith’s lack of history in East Lansing. The program has long been a place where former players, and coaches work their way up through the program, described as program guys, and who have brought their history at Michigan State into their roles.

Some notable head coaches like Mark Dantonio, George Perles, Mel Tucker, and Nick Saban were former players, or assistants. While some welcome the change and new blood in East Lansing, there could be cause for some concern. 

Because Smith might not know the extensive history at MSU, between the culture, importance of rivalries, and midwest recruiting that goes back all the way to Duffy Daughtery, a bridge to that history is always going to be welcome. Courtney Hawkins, was a four-year receiver from 1988-1991 at MSU, then spent nine years in the NFL. He knows what it means to suit up for the fanbase, and has been on the sidelines as a player and coach. As a former two-time first-team All-Big Ten honoree and a member of the 1990 championship team, he knows what it takes to win at the highest level in East Lansing and the Big Ten. 

Proven results

Hawkins was brought in by Mel Tucker in 2020 after he was hired from Colorado. Since then, he has been a steady recruiter and developer for Michigan State’s coaching staff. He played a role in the development of Jayden Reed, who now ranks among MSU’s all-time receivers in several categories, and got drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2023. Hawkins was also pivotal in the recruitment and coaching of Keon Coleman for his two years at Michigan State. As a sophomore, he led MSU in receptions and touchdown catches, and earned third-team All Big-Ten accolades.

Even more, Hawkins helped in the development of Jalen Nailor, who landed with the Minnesota Viking in the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Reed and Nailor led MSU’s receiving corps in 2021, ranking in the top 10 in the conference in statistical categories like receiving yards per game and yards per catch. Reed finished the season with 10 total touchdown catches, which ranks sixth most in MSU history. Nailor ranked second in the conference in yards per catch, averaging 18.8. Nailor caught five passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns at Rutgers. 

Recruiting boost

On top of Hawkins’ ability to create a bridge to the new staff, and his proven results as a developer, he will provide a recruiting boost to Jonathan Smith’s new staff. Because of his knowledge and history recruiting the midwest, it will provide Smith and the rest of the staff with a household name recruiting in-State players.

And he’s already providing recruiting help for 2024 playing an important role in locking down 2024 four-star, Nick Marsh.

You ready Hawk? Let's go get em! #TheDawgsOut#GreenLight✅ pic.twitter.com/vC1lWmEWym

— Nicholas “Megatron” Marsh (@NickMarsh_11) December 11, 2023

It’s been long reported that the Marsh family are big fans of Hawkins, and is a key reason he originally committed. Although it’s unclear if Hawkins being retained would have changed anything for Michigan State’s highest-rated 2024 commit, one could speculate that he was at the very least a voice of familiarity for the commit. 

Since Hawkins was brought on in 2020, he has been the lead recruiter in the commitments of five four-star recruits including Marsh.

Hawkins spent 14 years coaching at the high school level at Flint Beecher. His retention could also lend itself to bringing back several Spartans in the transfer portal like sophomore wide receivers Tyrell Henry and Jaron Glover. 

Jonathan Smith’s reaction

“I have been impressed getting to know Courtney Hawkins since I arrived on campus… On the field he has developed productive players who have made an impact both in the Big Ten and at the next level. He also has created strong relationships with his players and has great ties to the State of Michigan as a longtime high school coach. I’m excited to work with Coach Hawkins and welcome him and his family to our staff,” said Coach Smith in Michigan State’s press release on Monday. 

Another member of Smith’s staff is locked down, and the vision from Smith gets clearer.