{{Short description|American football player (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Michael Hawkes | image = | number = 59 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|4|11}} | birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 242 | high_school = Nottoway {{nowrap|(Nottoway County, Virginia)}} | college = Virginia Tech | undraftedyear = 2000 | pastteams = * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2001}}) * St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2002}})* * → Scottish Claymores (2002) * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2003}})* | highlights = * Second-team All-Big East (1999) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 3 | pfr = H/HawkMi20 }} '''Michael Tranzo Hawkes''' (born April 11, 1977) is an American former professionall football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Virginia Tech. He also played for the Scottish Claymores in the World League of American Football (WLAF).
==Early life== Hawkes attended Nottoway High School in Nottoway County, Virginia.<ref name="A">{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/hawk00100.html | title=MICHAEL HAWKES | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=May 1, 2015 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125951/http://www.profootballarchives.com/hawk00100.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> As a senior, he was a starter at linebacker, receiving region and district Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also was named All-Group AA at tight end.
He accepted a football scholarship from Virginia Tech. As a redshirt freshman, he made 4 tackles. As a sophomore, he had 20 tackles. As a junior, he started 11 games, posting 79 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 3 interceptions.
As a senior, he started every game, registering 69 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions, while contributing to the team reaching the National Championship Game in the 2000 Sugar Bowl.
==Professional career==
===Carolina Panthers=== Hawkes was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers after the 2000 NFL draft on April 26.<ref name="A"/> He was waived before the start of the season and signed to the practice squad, where he remained for the first 15 weeks. On December 19, he was promoted to the active roster. He played in the season finale against the Oakland Raiders.
In 2001, he was cut before the start of the season and signed to the practice squad on September 4. On October 12, he was promoted to the active roster. He played in 2 games before being released on October 24, to make room for linebacker Darren Hambrick.<ref name="B">{{cite web|url=http://www.kffl.com/player/252/nfl/news/michael-hawkes |title=Michael Hawkes |publisher=kffl.com |accessdate=May 1, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501223607/http://www.kffl.com/player/252/nfl/news/michael-hawkes |archivedate=May 1, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=hawkemic001 | title=Michael Hawkes | publisher=StatsCrew.com | accessdate=May 1, 2015}}</ref>
===St. Louis Rams=== On January 19, 2002, he was signed by the St. Louis Rams. On February 12, he was allocated to the Scottish Claymores of the World League of American Football.<ref name="B"/> He was named the starter at middle linebacker for the Claymores, while recording 10 starts, 43 tackles (second on the team), one sack, 3 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. He was released by the Rams before the start of the season.
===Dallas Cowboys=== On January 7, 2003, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He was released on August 31.<ref name="B"/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=hawkemic001 Stats Crew profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hawkes, Michael}} Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:People from Nottoway County, Virginia Category:Players of American football from Virginia Category:American football linebackers Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Scottish Claymores players Category:St. Louis Rams players Category:Dallas Cowboys players