Hawkins Will Sign With Hawaii

Nordhoff High tailback Josh Hawkins, The Times’ Ventura County Back of the Year, has orally committed to play at Hawaii.

Hawkins (6 feet, 180 pounds) chose the Rainbows over Nevada. He will sign a letter of intent after visiting Hawaii within the next month.

“I was going to go to either Cal Lutheran or Ventura College for a year and then see if I could get a scholarship to a bigger school, but Hawaii and Reno heard I was still available,” said Hawkins, who scored 36 touchdowns last fall.

Hawkins rushed for 2,454 yards and 32 touchdowns last season and led the Rangers to the Southern Section Division IX final, where they lost to Atascadero, 42-30. He caught 11 passes for 263 yards.