One has to wish Hawkins well or get castigated on social media. The ideal situation would be everyone putting team first, but fans have got to get used to the idea that, increasingly, college athletics are just a stepping stone for professional ambitions.
Now we know why he was not available against Virginia last week, a game that would have been much more competitive with Hawkins in the backfield.
“After much prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season and begin preparation for the 2021 NFL draft,” he tweeted on Monday morning.