Turns Out Arkansas Quarterback Recruit Had Unfortunate Reason to Transfer

Details behind Michael Hawkins, Jr.'s move from stories Allen High School spur 5-1 vote from UIL board

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Feb 21, 2023 12:16 PM EST
Original:
Feb 20, 2023

In this story:

FRISCO, Texas – When Arkansas quarterback recruit Michael Hawkins, Jr. and freshman cornerback recruit Maliek Hawkins abruptly transferred from Allen High School to Emerson High School in nearby Frisco ISD a few days ago, it was a pretty easy guess that it wasn't for athletic purposes.

Emerson is a relatively new school that opened back in 2021 as part of the ever expanding school district. It has little to no tradition, plays at the 5A level and competed this past year in the Division II level of the 5A football playoffs.

Meanwhile, Allen is one of the most storied programs in all of Texas High School football. The Eagles play in an 18,000 seat state of the art bowl stadium with every amenity under the sun and have been named national champions three times in the past decade as part of the state's largest classification.

Allen High School is larger that most towns in Arkansas. Being quarterback there is a position of high respect. Kyler Murray anyone?

It was a program thought to be unstoppable until former Arkansas coach Chad Morris stopped by for a cup of coffee as the head coach and killed everything.

As for Emerson, while they were relatively successful last year for a program so young, the facilities and exposure at the much smaller school are by no means equivalent.

It was initially assumed Hawkins might be transferring to Frisco because he wanted to graduate early to join whichever team he chooses next January. Frisco ISD has an online program called RAIL where students can take acceleration courses on top of their regular schedule to allow them to graduate early.

Unfortunately, the reason isn't nearly as uplifting.

The Hawkins family, headed by Michael Hawkins, Sr., a former Oklahoma Sooners star and member of the Dallas Cowboys, hoped to transfer their two sons quietly.

For those not familiar with Texas athletic politics, that rarely ever happens with potential Division I athletes.

On the transfer paperwork, Allen ISD officials noted a disagreement with members of the athletic program as a possible cause of the transfer. That immediately triggered a hearing before a University Interscholastic League board.

The UIL is the Texas equivalent of the Arkansas Activities Association.

There, in near tears out of frustration, Hawkins, Sr. laid out the details of the situation that led to his family's desire to leave the district.

"You wouldn’t believe the messages he received," Mike Hawkins, Sr. said. "You wouldn’t believe the way the community treated my son. [Hawkins, Jr.]"

The messages in question were racial in nature.

"I would never think that me and my family would have to go through something this crazy and, like, the racial and hateful comments," Hawkins Jr. said.

However, it was one particular message, painted across the family's garage door in large letters, that changed family plans of moving to another house in Allen to nearby Frisco.

"We don't need you in Allen [N-word]"

"Do you guys understand what this has done, uprooting my family?" Hawkins Sr. said. "It seems like a bad dream when I wake up. I’m having to relocate my family. No way in the world would I thought I would wake up and see the words, 'We don’t need you in Allen [N-word]' on my garage.'"

Hawkins, Sr. was very upset that a hearing was needed at all.

"It’s no way that we should have to deal with this," Hawkins, Sr. said. "There’s no way and then for them to push a narrative of there was a conflict. There’s no conflict. It’s simply I’ve got to protect my family, the same thing I told them in that meeting. What would you do with your kids? What would you do with your family?"

Even though the reason for the hearing was listed as dissatisfaction with the football program, Allen head coach Lee Wigington said the comments cited by the district at season's end were about the messages Hawkins, Jr. was receiving and vouched for the Hawkins family.

"Clearly, it would be considered dissatisfaction with the program and that comment that he made," Wiginton said. "He simply said, 'How can you let this happen? How can this be? How do you expect people not to move out.' The move is not a reaction to the dissatisfaction. The move was a reaction to the things that you heard Mr. Hawkins talk about."

Once the pending approval was put to a vote, the committee decided 5-1 to allow the transfer. The one assenting vote was reportedly given because six miles didn't seem to be a big enough move to escape the harassment the family was reporting.

Hawkins was originally the prime target of the Razorbacks under offensive coordinator Kendall Briles. However, the day Dan Enos took over, he immediately went to the home of top in-state recruit Walker White, indicating there might be a shift in primary target.

That moved turned Hawkins, who some thought might be leaning toward Arkansas, instead, toward Oklahoma and TCU, leaving Arkansas scrambling to find its next quarterback.

Whether Enos can mend fences and climb back up the list for Hawkins remains to be seen.