A look at Courtney Hawkins, when the Free Press followed his Flint Beecher team during the 2009 season. Hawkins is now the Michigan State receiver coach. Detroit Free Press
George Perles pulled Courtney Hawkins from Flint to Michigan State more than 30 years ago.
The wide receiver’s talent was evident immediately, as he set a single-season mark with 1,080 yards as a sophomore. From 1988-91, Hawkins earned All-Big Ten first-team honors twice, then became a second-round pick in the NFL draft. He remains among the Spartans’ all-time leaders in a number of receiving categories.
But before Hawkins left, his former coach demanded one thing of him.