Calhoun quarterback Trace Hawkins has announced his commitment to Clemson University, giving the Tigers one of their earliest pledges for the 2028 recruiting class.
According to reports from Clemson University, Rivals and 247Sports, Hawkins made his commitment Thursday evening, choosing the Tigers over LSU. He also held offers from Duke, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
Hawkins said Clemson stood out from the moment he first visited campus.
“The first time I stepped on campus, it felt like home,” Hawkins told Rivals. “The coaches felt like family, all the players talked to me, and I just felt like that’s the place I needed to be.”
The commitment is another recruiting victory for Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, offensive coordinator Chad Morris and quarterbacks coach Tajh Boyd as the program continues to build its future recruiting classes.
Hawkins enters his junior season at Calhoun High School with an impressive 21-6 record as the Yellow Jackets’ starting quarterback. He burst onto the statewide scene as a freshman in 2024, leading Calhoun to the GHSA Class AAA state championship — the fifth football state title in school history.
In the championship game against Jefferson, Hawkins earned Most Valuable Player honors after accounting for 231 total yards of offense and a touchdown in Calhoun’s 20-7 victory.
Now preparing for his junior campaign, Hawkins will look to add to an already accomplished high school career while carrying the momentum of his commitment to one of the nation’s premier college football programs.
The commitment marks a significant milestone for both Hawkins and the Calhoun football program, as one of northwest Georgia’s top prospects secures his collegiate future before the start of the 2026 high school football season.