Sep 17, 2025 3 min read

Name: Dennis Hawkins

Grade: Junior

School: Ringgold

Sport: Football

Hawkins’ week: The current times for Ringgold football are about as good as they’ve been in the last decade and Hawkins has been at the center of it as the quarterback after coming to the team as a transfer from Monessen.

Hawkins threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns leading the Rams to their third straight win, a 33-13 triumph over Greensburg Salem last Friday.

“Our team has really come together,” Hawkins said. “We’ve been practicing all summer and have come out and executed together very well.”

For the season, Hawkins has 620 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He also has a rushing touchdown and an interception on defense.

Hawkins has been a quarterback since he first started playing in youth football and is enjoying his time leading the Rams this fall after being Monessen’s starter the previous two seasons.

“It’s great being the quarterback for the Ringgold Rams right now,” Hawkins said. “We’ve had a couple of hard seasons, so it’s good to come out and lead our team to a 3-1 record to start this season.”

Like any good leader, Hawkins credited his teammates for his success. Last week he threw two touchdown passes to fellow junior Demetri Lowe and one to Amoni Ward.

“It’s great having those guys as options as a quarterback,” Hawkins said. “Amoni is a hard runner, but he can also catch and run. Demetri is great at what he does. He has great route running and great hands. He can just find the open spot and get up field after the catch.”

Hawkins also plays basketball and participates on the track and field at Ringgold. He is the center on the basketball team and runs the 400 meters, is part of the 400 and 1600 relay teams and does the high jump.

Buckeyes fan: When asked what quarterback he likes to model himself after, Hawkins said former Ohio State quarterback and current Houston Texan C.J. Stroud. In fact, any quarterback that’s worn scarlet and grey over the years is a favorite of Hawkins, because he’s a huge Ohio State fan.

“Growing up, my dad always liked Ohio State and I followed after my dad,” Hawkins said. “I’m just a fan of them and always will be.”

Cookin’ and cuttin’: Two of Hawkins’ favorite hobbies are cutting hair and cooking.

He’s been cutting hair for four years and doesn’t know if it’ll be a profession in the future, but more of a hobby he enjoys.

He has cut some of his teammates’ hair and has a signature cut.

“My most common cut is called a temple fade,” Hawkins said. “You fade the temple area on both sides and the back.”

While cutting hair is fun, Hawkins really enjoys cooking. So much so that he went to culinary school last year. He’s been cooking since he was 12 years old and his signature dish is pork steak over rice with gravy and peppers.

“I got the recipe from my uncle and just added my own little touches to it,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins is hopeful to start his own restaurant someday.

“My dad cooks fish and my uncle had a barbeque restaurant and I want to carry on that legacy with my family,” Hawkins said.

Compiled by Jerin Steele