> NSIC Release

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Former Southwest Minnesota State University football player and track athlete Wayne Hawkins will be inducted into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Hall of Fame on Wednesday, July 10, in St. Cloud, Minn.  The NSIC office made the announcement on Thursday morning.

The induction ceremony will be held at the Best Western Kelly Inn/St. Cloud as part of the NSIC's 14th annual Summer Kickoff event.  A social hour will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the ceremony at 7 p.m.

Hawkins is one of the most decorated athletes in SMSU history, excelling in both football and track.  A 1992 NFL draft pick of the New England Patriots, he still holds several school records in both sports and earned numerous post-season awards.

As a senior in 1991, he had one of the best seasons an individual football player could have as he set an NAIA record with 126 receptions for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns.  He also rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns and had one kickoff return for a touchdown.  He finished the year with 134 points, which ranks second in school history.

Hawkins, a native of St. Anthony, Minn., helped lead SMSU to a school record 9-1 mark in 1991 and was named first team all-conference, first team NAIA All-America, first team AP Little All-America and Kodak College Division I All-America.  He also played in both the Kelly Tire Blue-Gray All-Star Classic and East-West Shrine Football Classic, becoming the first SMSU player to play in either game, which has rosters that are typically, dominated by NCAA Division I players.

Hawkins was an honorable mention NAIA All-America in 1990 ranking sixth in the country in receiving while in 1989 he finished the year ranked fifth in the nation in receiving.  He ranks second in school history in both career receiving yards (2,992) and receptions (248) and is third in career touchdowns (28).  He also is tied for the school single-game record with six touchdowns (vs. Northern State, 1991) and receptions with 19 (vs. Peru State, Neb., 1991).

Following his career at SMSU, he was selected in the seventh round of the 1992 National Football League draft by the New England Patriots becoming only the second SMSU player to ever be drafted by an NFL team.

On the track, he was a 1991 NAIA Outdoor All-America in both the 100 and 200 meters and was a 1991 NAIA Indoor All-America in the 60-yard dash.  In 1990, he was an NAIA Outdoor All-America in both the 100 and 200 meters.  He also was the NIC champion in both the 100 and 200 meters in both 1990 and 1991 and earned all-conference honors both years.

His peers honored Hawkins in both 1990 and 1991 as he was voted SMSU Student-Athlete of the Year.

Hawkins is the 22nd individual from SMSU inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame.

Southwest Minnesota State NSIC Hall of Fame Inductees
Wayne Hawkins (2013)
Sam Leggett (2012)
Julie (Thein) Boom (2011)
Scott Dubbelde (2010)
Jeff Loots (2009)
Nancy Trebbensee (2008)
Bill McDonald (2007)
Mike Tobin (2006)
Leslie (Jacobsen) Bosch (2005)
Daniel Lee (2004)
Char (Nelson) Nisleit (2003)
Curt Strasheim (2002)
R.A. Colvin (2001)
Jeri Madden (2001)
Cindy (Olson) Schutt (2001)
Hugh Curtler (2000)
Carmen DeKoster (2000)
Mike Sterner (2000)
Randy Brezina (1990)
James Norton (1990)
Glenn Mattke (1986)
Don Palm (1986)