NORMAL, Ill. - The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) signed former Illinois State defensive end and Jacksonville Jaguar Brent Hawkins to a contract Tuesday.
Hawkins played two seasons at Illinois State (2004-05) after transferring from Purdue. He currently ranks fourth on the ISU career list with 20 sacks and is fifth in tackles-for-loss with 38.5, thanks to a record-breaking senior season. Hawkins ranked second in the nation with 17 sacks in 2005 and set new Illinois State and Missouri Valley Football Conference single-season records for sacks (17) and tackles-for-loss (26.5).
Following his senior season, Hawkins was named runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2005, presented annually to the top defensive player in Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football, and was invited to participate in the Hula Bowl, where he was named the game's defensive MVP. He was later drafted by the Jacksonville the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and played in 20 games with the Jaguars over two seasons, registering 23 tackles and 5.5 quarterback sacks.
Hawkins is the third Illinois State alum currently on the Saskatchewan roster, joining Kye Stewart (LB) and Jonathan St-Pierre (OL).
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