FRISCO, Texas — Michael Hawkins officially closed the book on his high school career. The Emerson High School quarterback has enrolled early at Oklahoma to get a jumpstart on his college career after taking the Mavericks to the state semifinals.
“I’m just proud of the community, our football team and our coaching staff,” Hawkins said on National Signing Day. “Just the bond we created throughout the season.”
Those relationships were rekindled in the face of adversity in December 2022. That’s when Hawkins and his family left Allen after a racist slur was painted on the garage door of their house.
“It was hard just knowing that I built a lot of relationships there,” said Hawkins, who was a two-year starter for the Eagles. “It’s been a crazy journey, but a fun journey at the same time.”
“Sometimes you want to ask why,” his dad, Michael Hawkins Sr., said. “Sometimes if you just sit still and look at the moment, and what comes out of it, God always prevails.”
Faith helped the entire family get through the shock of being targeted.
“It weighed on them a lot, more than I even thought it did,” said Michael’s mom, Annabelle. “Emotions came later on after it happened, a lot from the kids. It definitely took a toll on them emotionally.”
“It affected me,” Michael said. “But I put it to the side and just kept focused.”
The transition was easier because Michael went to elementary and middle school in Frisco with a lot of his Emerson teammates.
“When you go through a situation like that you just look for familiar people, and things that bring comfort and understanding,” Michael Hawkins Sr. said. “Come back to the place that means the most and people that love you the most.”
Michael flourished on the field with the Mavericks while the entire family strengthened their ties with everyone in the Emerson community.
“There were lots of moments that I cried a lot, just out of happiness,” Annabelle Hawkins said.
Finding strength in others during a time of adversity, which produced a year to remember for Michael Hawkins and his family.
“It’s just a true joy to be his father,” Michael Hawkins Sr. said. “He’s just a phenomenal kid. I just love him so much.”