Recruitment Picking up for 2025 OL Matthew Hawn
Class of 2025 Syracuse (NY) CBA offensive lineman Matthew Hawn is one of the most intriguing offensive linemen in the Northeast. The 6-6, 280 pounder's recruitment has been active in recent weeks, picking up offers from Rutgers, Syracuse, Army and Cornell to go along with scholarship opportunities from Boston College, Pittsburgh and others.
"It's definitely been a little bit of a whirlwind," Hawn said. "Ever since the season started, definitely talking to more power five schools. Talking to them, having visits, getting offers, junior days, it's been a rollercoaster for sure. I'm taking it in stride. It's been a great experience."
So far, Hawn has visited Syracuse, West Virginia and Pittsburgh. The plan is to visit other schools, such as Rutgers, Army, etc., along with return trips to Syracuse, West Virginia and Pitt, this spring. Dates have not been set yet, but he wants to get a closer look at all of those program.
The visit to Syracuse took place last month, and he has remained in constant contact with the Orange since the new staff has been in place.
"Coach Fran Brown has definitely brought in that reputation as a great recruiter," Hawn said. "He definitely is. He's been reaching out a lot, talking a lot. Talking to a lot of the coaches. Coach Nixon (offensive coordinator) called me a couple times Wednesday. Coach Williams, the offensive line coach, calls me. I've talked to the assistant o-line coach, quality control, the GM, Recruiting Coordinator. I've been talking to a lot of people and they've been doing a great job. I like the culture and how he's building Syracuse. I like how they've recruited me so far."
Shortly after that visit, the Orange extended a scholarship offer.
"I went to the junior day a couple days before I got offered," Hawn said. "I met the OC, the o-line coach, they kind of had just gotten there. I talked to the OC a lot. Told him about my speed and agility time. He was pretty impressed and said he would look into that more. I sat with him and coach Williams at the basketball game on the visit. Sent them some camp visits of me doing one-on-ones and speed drills. They all liked my film.
"Then one morning before school coach Williams called me and that's when he offered me. Coach Nixon called me right after and talked to me about it. It was a great experience, for sure, being offered by the new staff. Especially being so close to home."
With multiple power five offers in his back pocket and more sure to come, Hawn knows how he will evaluate his options to find the best fit.
"In the end, I'm definitely just looking for the best school for me," Hawn said. "I want a good academics program, somewhere that can set me up for the future. I want to like the coaches, have a good relationship with the coaches. I want to like the team as a whole, the culture of the team, the location. Those are all pretty big factors when choosing a school. Not just the record or how good of a football team."
Hawn says he is looking to commit sometime in the late summer or early fall, but that timeframe could be sped up depending on how the cycle plays out. In addition to the schools previously mentioned, Duke, Indiana and Minnesota are among those in constant contact.
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