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Alex
Kozora: What are your measurements (height, weight and
40 time)?
Tanner Hawkinson:
6’5 ½, 295. Not sure on my 40 time.
Alex Kozora: What made you decide to become a Jayhawk?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Being from Kansas, either you’re KU or K-State. My whole
family went to KU including my mom and all of my siblings.
My dad went to K-State, so he was outnumbered. I had lots of
familiarity with Kansas.
Alex Kozora: You were a tight end and a defensive
lineman coming out of high school. How did the switch to
offensive tackle come about?
Tanner Hawkinson:
I remember my freshman year when I was a redshirt, I was a
TE for a couple weeks. There were a couple guys older than
me and it was kind of a loaded position. So they moved me to
DL for the rest of the year. About a few weeks before spring
ball the following year they approached me, telling me that
there was a good opportunity at offensive tackle. They asked
me if I was willing to do it. The thought of gaining a bunch
of weight didn’t sit well with me at first. After thinking
about it for a couple days, I figured why not and give it a
shot.
Alex Kozora: Did you originally welcome changing
positions?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Yes. [Getting the chance for more playing time] was
definitely a big factor.
Alex Kozora: Talk about how difficult the transition
was, or was not.
Tanner Hawkinson:
It was kind of tough. But a lot of the footwork carried over
from my time at TE. It was just getting used to pass
protection and playing against bigger guys all the time. It
kind of came, not naturally, but easier than someone who
hadn’t played TE like I did before. A lot of the blocking
concepts and footwork came back from before.
Alex Kozora: You started all 12 games for Kansas as a
redshirt freshman and haven’t looked back. What helped you
to start right away?
Tanner Hawkinson:
My athletic ability has helped me. Being able to keep guys
in front of me in the pass game. I had a lot of guys around
me. Some older guys, they helped me quite a bit and what to
expect out of myself. And the motivation to get better and
better.
Alex Kozora: What did it mean to you to be elected
offensive co-captain by your teammates this year?
Tanner Hawkinson:
It means a lot, knowing that the guys on the team see me as
a leader for them. When I was a younger guy here, we had
guys like Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier. To think of myself
as someone those younger guys look up to, it means a lot.
Alex Kozora: What is your biggest strength? Is it
your athletic ability?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Yeah, I think my athletic ability and the ability to get to
the second level.
Alex Kozora: What’s one part of your game that you’d
like to improve on?
Tanner Hawkinson:
I want to improve in every area. You never want to become
complacent. I just want to keep improving in every area.
Alex Kozora: You spent your first two seasons at left
tackle before switching to right tackle last season. Where
will you be playing this season?
Tanner Hawkinson:
I’ll be back at left tackle.
Alex Kozora: Is that your preferred position?
Tanner Hawkinson:
No preference. I will play wherever the team needs me.
Alex Kozora: What are your goals for your senior
year?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Team goals, we want to go out every week and win. It’s going
to be a tough schedule in the Big 12. We want to make it to
a bowl game. We were there my freshman year and haven’t been
back. Personal goals, I want to improve week to week and
just become the best leader I can being the captain for this
team.
Alex Kozora: Talk about what new head coach Charlie
Weis is like.
Tanner Hawkinson:
He’s been great throughout spring ball. He’s been tough on
us, but at the same time, he’s a very personable guy. He’s a
great coach, very balanced. We got quite a bit done in
spring ball given the fact that we had a whole new coaching
staff, learning a whole new offense. I think the spring went
great for us.
Alex Kozora: Were you excited about the hire since
he’s an offensive minded coach?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Yeah, definitely. I followed the coaching search pretty
close. His name never really popped up until the day before
he was hired. I was kind of surprised.
Alex Kozora: Are there any NFL players you try to
play like?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Not particularly. I probably don’t watch as much as I did
before since we are pretty busy. Not anyone in particular.
Alex Kozora: How has new QB Dayne Crist looked so
far?
Tanner Hawkinson:
Dayne has looked great for us. All he has done is work his
tail off. It helps him knowing the offense from before [from
Charlie Weis]. He was a huge help this spring. He has been a
great addition for this team.
Alex Kozora: What fellow offensive lineman do you
expect to make a lot of noise this year?
Tanner Hawkinson:
You can look at the other two seniors: Duane Zlatnik and
Trevor Marrongelli. Duane had a great year last year. He’s
fairly new to the position too. He played defensive end for
a year and a half. He’s just a big, strong guy. Trevor is a
big, strong guy as well. He’s really smart. He knows the
offense. He’s our center. He knows what to do. |