KFBCA Top 11: Christien Hawks

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams December 6th and 7th, including their Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Norton lineman Christien Hawks' capsule below and check back for more capsules throughout the week.

Christien Hawks, OL/DL, 6-5, 262, Norton, Sr.

When the Air Force began development on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the American Military’s current fifth-generation fighter jet, they did so with the goal of rolling a number of unique aircraft capabilities into one jet. Something multi-purpose they could use for a number of situations. For the Fall of 2021, the Air Force Academy appears to have gone with a similar concept on the football field by recruiting a northwest Kansas player with just about every capability you could want out of an offensive lineman. That recruit is KFBCA Top 11 selection Christien Hawks of Norton.

Hawks, a 6-5, 262 pound behemoth with a 6 foot, 8 inch wingspan, committed to Air Force in November, after a selection process that saw many different offers and a decommitment from the University of Kansas earlier that month. He signed with the Falcons earlier this week.

The lineman's mixture of strength, quickness and IQ proved to be a devastating combo on the football field throughout his high school career. Hawks displays power (310 pound bench press), mobility and also sustains a 3.7 GPA in the classroom.

He is also an explosive shot putter who recorded a personal best of 47 feet, three-quarters of an inch as a sophomore leaving him just short of qualifying for state. He fully expected to break the 50-foot mark last season before the coronavirus led to the cancellation of spring sports. He's part of the Bluejay basketball team as well. A multi-purpose weapon indeed.

And not only will Hawks look to soar for the Falcons, he will try to carry-on a legacy of college athletic success. 

His father, Jeremy, enjoyed an exceptional athletic career at Fort Hays State and is in the Tigers’ Hall of Fame. He was a six-time All-American in track and field, four times in the shot put, and started all four years along the Tiger defensive line where he delivered 179 tackles with 20 for loss.

Many coaches and sports writers who covered Jeremy’s playing career at Norton in the early 90s agree he would’ve been a Division I prospect with the benefit of social media and the modern combine and camp circuit. In fact, film from the Sharp Performance Showcase this summer was part of what prompted KU to take a closer look at Christien, and ultimately offer him.

After college, Jeremy served eight seasons as an assistant at Garden City High School before returning home to Norton to serve in a similar role under Bluejay head coach Lucas Melvin.

And Melvin has nothing but praise for the younger Hawks.

“Christien Hawks has been a four-year starter for us,” Melvin said. “He continued to improve every year and has put a lot of work into being a great player. He is physical, has great feet and is a tremendous team player. Not to mention, he is a terrific young man.”

Through his four-year varsity career, Christien played on both sides of the ball, helping lead the Bluejays to the state title game his junior year, where they fell short against Nemaha Central. He recorded 166 total tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss, 10.5 sacks and 23 hurries on the defensive side of the ball, despite playing in only six games his senior year. 

Hawks multifaceted skill set on the field earned him a spot on multiple All-State teams and will continue to propel him when he arrives in Colorado Springs to begin his college career.

The KFBCA Top 11* and All-State selections consist of seniors from the Class of 2021 nominated and voted on by members of the Kansas Football Coaches Association. For more info about the KFBCA find them online at www.kfbca.com. 

*There are actually 12 Top 11 selections this year because of a tie in voting.