Jared Hawley Newcomb Sophomore Running Back Named San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week
Sponsored by The Graphic Designer
By Wally D
Photos by Mario Deschilly.
San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week
Newcomb sophomore Jared Hawley is this week’s San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week, sponsored by The Graphic Designer, after a dominating performance in Newcomb’s 32-2 victory over Crownpoint.
Hawley carried the football an incredible 39 times for 206 yards and four touchdowns, providing the driving force behind the Newcomb offense.
For Newcomb head coach Lee, one thing immediately stands out about his sophomore running back — his physicality.
“He’s about 190, 195 pounds, and he runs really strong,” Lee said. “It takes a group to tackle him. Every play he breaks several tackles.”
But Hawley isn’t simply a power runner.
Coach Lee said Hawley combines his strength with surprising quickness and the ability to make defenders miss.
“He’s pretty shifty for a bigger kid,” Lee said. “It’s hard for guys to take a good shot at him. He runs low to the ground, he’s very strong, and he keeps his feet moving.”
Part of that ability comes from Hawley’s wrestling background.
Lee said wrestling has taught Hawley how to understand leverage, use his hips and maintain balance through contact — all traits that have carried over to the football field.
“He knows how to use his body,” Lee said. “Very rarely do people tackle him one-on-one.”
Handling 39 carries also takes more than physical strength.
Hawley committed himself to the weight room after wrestling season and spent the offseason preparing his body for the workload he wanted to take on.
According to Lee, Hawley made it clear that he wanted the responsibility of becoming one of Newcomb’s featured players.
“He wanted to be the guy,” Lee said. “He wanted that responsibility.”
Lee said the willingness to keep carrying the football when tired and beaten up shows Hawley’s mental toughness.
“He is loaded with mental fortitude and mental strength,” Lee said.
Hawley has quickly become what his coach calls the centerpiece of the Newcomb offense.
“Right now he is the motor to our vehicle,” Lee said. “He is the engine in our vehicle. He is making us go.”
But Hawley’s impact reaches beyond his rushing statistics.
Lee said the sophomore has earned the respect of his offensive linemen because of the way he treats them. Hawley regularly thanks the players blocking in front of him and makes sure they know their work is appreciated.
“He’s a very gracious, very humble kid,” Lee said. “Our line just loves that, and they go out of their way to block for him.”
That humility is also part of Hawley’s leadership style.
Lee calls Hawley a “quiet leader” — someone who doesn’t have to say much because his actions speak for him.
“He leads by action,” Lee said. “When something needs to get done, he will say, ‘I’ll do it, Coach. I’ll step up.’ He’s always willing to do whatever is needed for the team.”
And doing all of that as just a sophomore makes Hawley’s performance even more impressive.
Lee said Hawley has also developed exceptional vision as a runner. Instead of simply charging into the designed hole, Hawley has learned to read his blockers, recognize cutback lanes and wait for openings to develop.
“He has great vision,” Lee said. “He can push the point of attack, and then when he sees the opening, he can make that cut.”
That ability has Hawley on pace to potentially make Newcomb football history.
Coach Lee said the school’s single-season rushing record is 1,442 yards, set last season by Landon Noble. Hawley is currently on pace to challenge that mark.
And Noble has already given the sophomore his blessing.
“Landon told him, ‘Break my records,’” Lee said.
With two more years of high school football still ahead of him, Hawley is already showing the toughness, vision, humility and leadership that have made him one of the most important players in Newcomb’s program.
After 206 rushing yards, 39 carries and four touchdowns in a convincing 32-2 win over Crownpoint, Jared Hawley is the San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week, sponsored by The Graphic Designer.
San Juan County Sports Athlete of the Week is proudly sponsored by The Graphic Designer — your local source for custom embroidery, screen printing, promotional products, business branding, signs, banners, and creative design services. Conveniently located in Farmington, The Graphic Designer helps businesses, schools, teams, and organizations stand out with professional quality and personalized service. 2021 E 19th St Farmington 505-326-1552
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