SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Moeller senior defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins announced Thursday morninghe’s verbally committed to play football at Penn State.
Hawkins, the son of former Bengals and University of Cincinnati player Artrell Hawkins and nephew of former NFL receiver Andrew Hawkins, also considered UC among his finalists.
The four-star recruit is rated the state’s No. 12 player in the 2018 class by the 247Sports Composite Ratings and the nation’s No. 23-best defensive tackle in his class.
Moeller defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins is one of the state’s top players in the 2018 class. (Tony Tribble/WCPO Contributor)
Hawkins visited Penn State in July and could not say enough about the program.
"My visit was amazing, to be honest," he told PennLiveafter the visit.
"The biggest thing that stood out was the culture. Coach (James) Franklin is a winner and he treats you like family. The class of '18 kids that have committed are already embracing it."
He also had several other scholarship offers including Alabama, UCLA, Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. High-profile programs made it a point to visit Moeller to watch him in the weight room.
Hawkins, a first-team All-Greater Catholic League South division player in 2016, had 42 tackles including two sacks and a forced fumble for the Crusaders.
Hawkins, who is 6 feet 4 and 265 pounds, will join Penn State freshman quarterback Sean Clifford(St. Xavier) as area players on the Nittany Lions' roster.
Moeller opens this season at Hamilton at 7 p.m. Aug. 26 in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown.
