Anthony Hawkins: Film breakdown of Iowa football's transfer portal add

Phil Parker's defense for the Iowa Hawkeyes has been built around elite play in the secondary. He has been pumping out talent to the NFL and putting opposing quarterbacks in a bind when they take on the Hawkeyes.

He has his work cut out for him this year at the safety position with the departure of Xavier Nwankpa due to exhausting all of his eligibility, and the shocking news of Koen Entringer entering the transfer portal. Iowa is already at work bolstering the secondary, though, as they quickly won the commitment of Villanova safety Anthony Hawkins.

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As Iowa continues to bolster the roster via the portal, check out the tale of the tape and the film on Anthony Hawkins, the newest Iowa Hawkeye.

Info

• Anthony Hawkins

• Defensive Back (Safety)

• Played two seasons at Villanova (2024-25)

Vitals

• Height: 6-foot-3

• Weight: 195 pounds

Recruiting

• High School: Broadneck High School

• Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland

• Class: 2024

Stats

• Appeared in 19 games over two seasons with Villanova

• 61 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 11 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble

• Appeared in all 15 games as part of a Villanova team that reached the FCS Playoff Semifinals

• FCS Freshman All-American honors

Film Breakdown

Pros: At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Anthony Hawkins is a lengthy safety. He fits the mold of what the Seattle Seahawks have built their secondary around. Iowa has often used safeties in the run game, but Hawkins' film has shown that he will stay on the field in passing downs, picking up tight ends of underneath crossers, and can run laterally with them. Runs the alley well to come down and help in the run game when things are stretched outside.

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Cons: He can run very well and is a smooth strider, which gave him some leeway to keep his eyes in the backfield at times and make up any ground or close quickly if needed against FCS opponents. Hawkins trusts his instincts quite a bit, which is a blessing and a curse, as Iowa fans have come to know. He can make game-changing plays, trusting his instincts, jumping routes, but will have to stay disciplined, a principle of Phil Parker's defense, against the play-action pass shots teams will take.

Comparison: A more slender version of Riq Woolen, the Seattle Seahawks defensive back

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Anthony Hawkins: Film breakdown of Iowa football's transfer portal add