AJ Hawk

[Jungletiger]

Now this is a first pick for the Bengals right here.

At a Glance:

The defensive MVP of the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and one of the top linebackers in college football … tops the depth chart at the Will (weak side) linebacker spot in 2004, his second season as a starter … coming off a monster year in which he led the Buckeyes in tackles with 106 in his first season as a starter … also was second in solo tackles behind Dustin Fox (55) with 52 … blessed with size, speed and instinct … runs to the ball well and is a punishing tackler … won first-team All-Big Ten honors last year and should be a Butkus Award candidate this year … has already been named to the 2004 watch list for the Lombardi Award.

2003 (Sophomore):

Finished the 2003 campaign with 13 tackles-for-loss (second on the team/Will Smith-20) and four sacks … also had a pair of interceptions and five passes broken up … had a career-high 13 tackles against Northwestern and was in double figures on three other occasions, including the Fiesta Bowl, where he had 10 stops … led the team in tackles seven times … had a 55-yard interception return against North Carolina State and also had a pick against Bowling Green … first team All-Big Ten in his second year in the league … an OSU Scholar-Athlete … more than tripled playing time with 333 minutes as a sophomore (100 as a frosh) … tied for second most returning minutes on the defensive side with free safety Nate Salley … Dustin Fox is the defensive leader with 365 in 2003.

2002 (Freshman):

The backup to Cie Grant at the weak-side linebacker spot … recorded 26 tackles as a true freshman, 13 solo and 13 assisted tackles … had 3.5 tackles-for-loss including a half-sack against Washington State … had two interceptions, including one he returned 34 yards for a score against Kent State … had five tackles and made his first career start against Penn State ... intercepted Penn State QB Zach Mills on the Nittany Lions’ first possession and returned it 10 yards … also had five tackles against Kent State and Wisconsin … came off the bench at Wisconsin and played the entire second half in place of the injured Grant.

High School:

Missed much of his senior year because of injury, but still finished the campaign with 82 tackles … 585 career tackles (142 as a freshman, 192 as a sophomore and 169 as a junior) … rated as the nation’s 30th best outside linebacker by Rivals.com … also averaged over 40 yards as a punter his senior year … played point guard on the basketball team as a freshman and sophomore.

Personal:

Is the son of Keith and Judy Hawk … has two older brothers, Matt (26), Ryan (23) … Ryan is a senior quarterback at Ohio University … enjoys hunting and target shooting … practices yoga, which he lists as one of the biggest risks he has taken … best football memory to date is winning the 2002 National Title … top memory from 2003 is the repeat victory at the Fiesta Bowl … the pregame OSU Marching Band “Skull Session” is his favorite home game experience … the Tunnel of Pride is top OSU tradition … if he were not playing football, the baseball Buckeyes would be his alternate OSU sport of choice.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

personally i like Johnson out of texas as a better lb. but thats just me, plus he would be a great talent and another johnson

[LABengalsFan09]

Mike Patterson USC, dominant defensive tackle is priority #1 for the Bengals.... wow it's early to talk draft...

[AGrizzlyBaer]

i like patterson but he is only 285, i like the huge guy out of wisconsin,Anttaj Hawthorne Wisconsin 6'3" 312 . another big dt. ill really get to see him play this weekend see how good he really is

[LABengalsFan09]

Good Call. Patterson is smallish... We need bulk as opposed to speed.... We need someone that makes the center crap his pants because he knows his double team won't be enough... A La John Henderson or Marcus Stroud....