Alex Hawkins facts for kids
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | July 2, 1937 Welch, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| Died: | September 12, 2017 (aged 80) Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| College: | South Carolina | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1959 / Round: 2 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Clifton Alexander Hawkins (born July 2, 1937 – died September 12, 2017) was an American football player. He played professionally as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Alex Hawkins played for the Baltimore Colts and the Atlanta Falcons. He was especially good at special teams plays. He even became a co-captain for the Colts, which was a big deal for a special teams player.
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Early Life and High School Years
Alex Hawkins was born in Welch, West Virginia. He finished high school at South Charleston High School in 1955.
College Football Career
From 1956 to 1958, Hawkins played college football for the University of South Carolina. He ran for 1,491 yards during his college career. In his senior year, he was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year. He was also chosen as a third-team All-American player.
Playing in the NFL
Joining the Baltimore Colts
In the 1959 NFL Draft, Alex Hawkins was the thirteenth player picked. He was chosen in the second round. He was first drafted by the Green Bay Packers. However, the Baltimore Colts soon picked him up. In his first year, the Colts won the NFL Championship. They beat the New York Giants 31–16.
Super Bowl III and "Captain Who"
In his last season in 1968, Hawkins was the special teams captain for the Colts. They played in Super Bowl III. The Colts were expected to win easily. But the New York Jets, led by Joe Namath, surprised everyone. The Jets won the game 16–7.
During his nine years in the NFL, Hawkins scored 10 touchdowns by running. He also caught 129 passes, with 12 of those being touchdowns. He was also good at returning punts and kickoffs.
Hawkins got the nickname "Captain Who" in a funny way. Before a game against the Chicago Bears, the team captains were meeting. When the official introduced "Captain Hawkins," Bears' star player Dick Butkus supposedly blurted out, "Captain Who?"
Life After Football: Broadcasting
After he stopped playing football, Alex Hawkins became a sports commentator. He worked as a "color commentator" for the Falcons radio. He also worked for TVS, covering the World Football League (WFL). Later, he joined CBS to commentate on NFL games in the 1970s.
Later Life and Passing
Alex Hawkins passed away on September 12, 2017. He was 80 years old. He died in Columbia, South Carolina.
Images for kids
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Alex Hawkins in 1961
