Andrew Hawkins' nephew offered by UT

Andrew Hawkins was a fantastic Toledo Rocket as he started both ways during his career at UT. Hawkins played at Toledo from 2004-2007, and he caught 67 balls for 1,107 yards and five touchdowns. Hawkins currently is a star wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns.

Hawkins' nephew, Shamar Jones, was offered by Toledo last week, and it is his FBS first offer. Jones is a 6-foot-1, 245-pound weakside defensive end in the class of 2018.

Also in the Hawkins/Jones family is Antrell Hawkins Jr., who played safety in the NFL for eight years, and Antrell Hawkins Sr., a former Pittsburgh Steelers running back.

Jones learned about the offer from Toledo through Andrew Hawkins, his uncle, and delivering the offer was Toledo head coach Jason Candle.

"I was crazy excited," Jones said. "Not just to get my first offer from a program that was in the top 25 last year, but also because I remember rooting for Toledo as a kid. So it's cool to see it come full circle."

Jones' connection with his uncle has had a big impact on his early football career.

"I would say it's real huge," he explained. "He's one of my biggest influences in football and really has really been hands on showing the ropes."

Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Temple, and Texas State have also been showing Jones interest, but Toledo is the lone FBS school to offer him thus far. With Jones' relationship with his uncle, Toledo will be hard to beat when it comes time for him to make his decision come National Signing Day of 2018.

"I'd say so. It's still super early in the process, but regardless of how my recruitment shapes out, Toledo most definitely will be one of my final choices," Jones said.