Dec. 21, 2011
Austin - The University of Texas inked two signees to National Letters of Intent on junior college signing day on Wednesday in OL Donald Hawkins from Northwest (Miss.) Community College and DT Brandon Moore from East Mississippi Community College. Both will enroll at Texas in January.
"We haven't actively been involved in junior college recruiting in our 14 years at Texas, but this year we felt like there were two really special young men that fit our needs and would give us immediate depth since they can come in January," head coach Mack Brown said.
"Bo Davis and Stacy Searels had relationships with their coaches from their time recruiting in the SEC, so that was a big factor in our decision to recruit Brandon and Donald. Bo actually recruited and coached Brandon at Alabama, so he obviously knew and really liked Brandon, and he is excited about continuing that relationship. Stacy feels really good about the relationship he's built with Donald and is looking forward to having the opportunity to coach him."
The duo mark only the third and fourth junior college transfers signed to scholarships in the Mack Brown era, and the first two since 2001 when the Longhorns signed OT Alfio Randall and P Brian Bradford. However, Hawkins and Moore are the first two to be signed early on junior college signing day for early enrollees.
"They're both big, talented kids in the 6-6, 325 range. Donald brings great feet with that size. He was a dominating player who earned All-America honors at the junior college level and with that, we felt he was a guy that should come in and give us immediate help. Having worked with Brandon as a redshirt at Alabama and recruiting him in high school, Bo knows a lot about him. He thinks he has a chance to be a dominating player as well."
Hawkins started all 19 games at tackle during his two seasons at Northwest Community College, during which the team posted a 15-4 record. He was named a 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First-Team All-American as a sophomore while anchoring an offense that averaged 41.6 points and 485.4 yards of total offense per game. He also earned two-time NJCAA Region XXIII Lineman of the Year honors. As a freshman, he helped NWCC to a 9-1 record and a No. 6 NJCAA final ranking. Hawkins was a two-time all-district selection at Rosa Fort High School in Tunica, Miss.
Moore played one season at East Mississippi Community College after spending two seasons at the University of Alabama. He helped EMCC to a 12-0 record and the NJCAA National Championship last season, while recording 41 tackles (25 solo), four TFL, three sacks and nine pressures, and earning Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State North First-Team honors. He played in four games at Alabama in 2010 after redshirting in 2009. A prep All-American and first-team all-state selection as a senior at Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala., Moore helped Carver to a 13-1 record that year, including a 5A Region 3 championship and an appearance in the 5A state semifinals, while playing primarily on the offensive line after switching from defensive line as a junior.
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Donald Hawkins
Offensive Lineman
6-5 • 320 • Jr.-TR
Tunica, Miss. (Northwest [Miss.] CC/Rosa Fort HS)
H.S. Coaches: Lynord Crutchfield and Terry Smith
Transfer from Northwest Community College (NWCC) … started all nine games at tackle as a sophomore for NWCC in 2011 … named 2011 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First-Team All-America … tabbed 2011 NJCAA All-Region XXIII … two-time Region XXIII Lineman of the Year … earned 2011 Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-State North First Team honors and named Line MVP … helped NWCC to a 6-3 record, including a 4-2 division record in 2011 … a key to an offense that averaged 41.6 points per game and 485.4 yards of total offense per game, including 292.6 passing yards per game and 192.9 rushing yards per game … started all 10 games at tackle as a freshman at Northwest in 2010 … graded as the team's top pass blocker … helped the team to a 9-1 record, including a 6-0 division mark, en route to a MACJC North Division Championship, an undefeated regular season, and a NJCAA No. 6 final ranking … helped the team average 30.6 points per game and 413.6 total yards per game, including a 205.5 rushing yards average and a 208.1 passing yards average … played multiple positions on the offensive and defensive lines at Rosa Fort High School … a two-time all-district selection (2008-09) … named team captain as a senior for a team that finished as co-district champions with a 6-5 record and appeared in the 4A playoffs in 2009 … named one of the Top 40 players in Mississippi that year … played defense and recorded 70 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles … helped Rosa Fort to a 7-4 record, including a 5-1 district record, and an appearance in the 3A playoffs as a junior in 2008 … also played basketball at Rosa Fort … majored in health, physical education and recreation at NWCC.
Brandon Moore
Defensive Tackle
6-6 • 335 • Jr.-TR
Montgomery, Ala. (East Mississippi CC/Alabama/Carver HS)
H.S. Coach: Al Pogue
Transfer from East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) who spent two seasons at the University of Alabama prior to that … helped EMCC to a 12-0 record and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship while playing defensive tackle as a sophomore in 2011 … the Lions were also NJCAA Region XXII, Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges (MACJC) State and North Division Champions … earned MACJC All-State North First-Team honors in 2011 … recorded 41 tackles (25 solo), four TFL, three sacks and nine pressures … a key part of a defense that allowed only 23.1 points and 333.8 total yards per game, including 196.9 passing yards and 136.8 rushing yards per game … posted a season-high seven tackles against Northwest Community College … tallied three or more tackles on seven other occasions … played in four games at defensive tackle, recording six tackles as a redshirt freshman at Alabama in 2010 where he played under current Texas defensive tackles coach Bo Davis … redshirted at Alabama in 2009 … a prep All-American as a senior at Carver High School in 2008 who played primarily on the offensive line as a senior … a first-team 5A Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State selection … also a first-team All-State choice by The Birmingham News and The Montgomery Advertiser … helped Carver to a 13-1 record, including a 5A Region 3 championship (5-0 record) and an appearance in the 5A state semifinals … a key part of an offense that averaged 45.4 points per game … also listed as the 30th best defensive tackle nationally by ESPNU … listed on The Mobile Press-Register's Super Southeast 120 … No. 7 on the Press-Register's Elite 18 … rated No. 8 on The Birmingham News Super Senior list … graded out at 91 percent for the year on the offensive line … named defensive line MVP at a 2008 Nike camp … played primarily on the defensive line as a junior in 2007 … recorded 60 tackles and seven sacks … born in Pittsburgh, Pa. … moved to Montgomery in the ninth grade and began playing organized football.
