Blurb at NFL.com on AJ Hawk's Character

[ManCans]

A.J.'s RULES
It is an understatement to say that Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is unbending in his dedication not to be seen as better than anyone else. His family, his friends, and his teammates and coaches have experienced that Hawk "I'm-the-same-as-everybody" philosophy many a time.

Five of A.J.'s rules:


Instructed his parents not to cheer for him in high school (Centerville, Ohio), although they could clap for team touchdowns.
Never wore his high school varsity jackets. Did not want to seem "big time."
Refused to let Buckeyes photographers take a new media guide head-and-shoulders of him after his freshman year because he did not want to give up precious rest time between two-a-day August practices. Photos don't matter!
Requested that an inch be taken off his Ohio State roster height (from 6-2 to 6-1). "I don't ever want to meet somebody and they go, 'You're not as tall as I thought you'd be,' " he told his father Keith.
On Senior Day, he was the only Buckeye to greet his parents with his helmet on. That was the rule in high school -- helmets stay on!

"He doesn't like anything false," his father says. "Nothing false. He wants it all to be better. He wants to give something better than anyone expects."
If AJ Hawk falls into our lap at #6, I guarantee that he'll be one of the most beloved 49ers of all time.:doubleup:

[kavaholic]

If AJ Hawk falls into our lap at #6, I guarantee that he'll be one of the most beloved 49ers of all time.:doubleup:
he's a nolan guy.

[Alpha Strike]

too bad the chances of him getting past those fools in wisconson the former cheese state are soo astronomically against that we'll never see him in RED and GOLD unless we land him in FA seven years in the future.

[TheWiz]

I see this as more of a warning beacon than a sign of something positive. The kid would be a 6th overall draft choice, he had better get used to the camera. First rounders are media darlings who are overinterviewed and the camera is on them each game. It's also a bad sign that he's not much of a leader. He'd prefer to stay quiet and away from a public forum and is the last kind of guy to take charge emotionally. It's nice that he doesn't want to be a spotlight hog, but as a 1st rounder you'd better be able to an impression.

This is the kind of silence that Woods seemed to possess.

[dan49fan]

It seems like overkill.
seriously you tell your parents they can't cheer for you...:rolleyes2:


Let me ask you do you get cheered for when you do your job? answer NO. Hawk was doing wat he needed to do nothing more. Maybe he was embarrassed by his parents.:whistling:

[D-Man]

That's more like serial killer traits....very odd! Way too introverted to be a "Nolan guy," imo. I wonder if that stuff is true?

D

[Ninerfan0850]

I see this as more of a warning beacon than a sign of something positive. The kid would be a 6th overall draft choice, he had better get used to the camera. First rounders are media darlings who are overinterviewed and the camera is on them each game. It's also a bad sign that he's not much of a leader. He'd prefer to stay quiet and away from a public forum and is the last kind of guy to take charge emotionally. It's nice that he doesn't want to be a spotlight hog, but as a 1st rounder you'd better be able to an impression.

This is the kind of silence that Woods seemed to possess.

I agree with the leader thing, but I think he's used to the cameras in his face being at Ohio St.

[jay_1699]

Seems like a great guy, but we don't need him atm and there are better impact players at #6...if he's there (and VD isn't) trade down and get a few more picks.

[chinmusic851]

The first thing i thought of when I read that was Pat Tillman. He was a different kind of guy. A real team-first guy that inspires with his leadership.