Oakland Tribune: Hawkins still looking to fly

Cal wide receiver from CCSF confident big game to come

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — Lavelle Hawkins doesn't recognize himself any more as a wide receiver. The Cal sophomore has lost a integral part of his football identity.  "I got to get my swagger back," Hawkins said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm getting to the point where I'm like, 'You know, Lavelle, let's get out here, and let's ball out. Let's just go play football.'  "I don't want to sound selfish, like 'Give me the ball.' We're winning. But every playmaker in the world wants the ball, to show what he can do. It's not like the athleticism is not there. It's there."  Then what is the problem? Hawkins was a heralded recruit from City College of San Francisco, where he caught Joe Ayoob's passes. After seven games at Cal, Hawkins has five catches and no touchdowns.  "I have to learn to focus more, running the right depths and routes, the detailed steps," he said. "I'm thinking too much instead of just playing. I haven't had a big game yet, but it's coming."  Saturday would be perfect timing for Hawkins because Cal is thin at wide receiver. Robert Jordan has a collarbone injury. His arm was in a sling Wednesday. Cal's other starting wideout, DeSean Jackson, has a shoulder strain, but practiced sparingly Wednesday. And Noah Smith hasn't played in six weeks because of a broken leg.  Saturday night's Pac-10 matchup between Cal (5-2, 2-2 Pac-10) and Washington State (3-3, 0-3) is a pivotal turnaround game for both schools but has greater significance for Cal because of bowl expectations.  The Bears have lost two straight, the Cougars three in a row. Coach Jeff Tedford hasn't yet lost three consecutive games at Cal, so he'll be looking to get his groove back against the team from the Palouse.

To do that, he'll need results from his erratic passing game, and a breakthrough game from Hawkins.  "It's not going to be too long before I'm not quiet like this," Hawkins said of his season to date. "I don't think of Saturday as a breakout game; it's whatever gets the win. Sam DeSa, LaReylle Cunningham, Sean Young ... they all can play."  Tedford feels Jackson may play Saturday. Jordan will be a game-time decision. Cal likely will need backup help against Wazzu. Bears wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau said he isn't nervous about player availability, and he's not dissatisfied with Hawkins' progress.  "Lavelle and DeSean were playing about the same amount of reps until Lavelle got hurt in the New Mexico State game," Kiesau said. "When that happened, DeSean started to do real well. And my theory is when a player is hot, I leave him in. Don't break that rhythm.  "So now with the injury (situation), Lavelle will step right in and get his chance. He and another guy, Sam DeSa, who is my sleeping dark horse. He's been working, working, working. He deserves to be on the field. I told him that it's going to work out for him."  Kiesau is confident his backups will come through if necessary.  "We're not going to miss a beat," he said.