Michigan State WR coach Courtney Hawkins proud to see former players find success in NFL

East Lansing, Mich. – As a former second-round draft pick who began his nine-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished up with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Michigan State wide receiver coach Courtney Hawkins is influenced heavily by the pro game.

“I actually look at everything through that lens, everything, recruiting,” Hawkins said after practice on Tuesday. “I think it is super valuable because when I am talking to my guys, they know that I am talking from being on the field. When we are making adjustments on the sideline, it is not new to me, and I’ve seen it before. They respect that because they are like, he ain’t talking out of no book.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching the position he played for Hawkins is preparing Michigan State wide receivers for success at the next level. So, it was especially rewarding last weekend to see three former Spartan wide receivers have big days for their respective NFL teams.

“It’s cool to watch those guys, man,” Hawkins said. “Anybody who came through here that I have had an opportunity to work with, whether they left or went to some other college, I kind of track them. I might not hit them up or anything, but I will see how they did. Part of this deal is about relationships. I want everybody to flourish, and I know that everybody that comes in here wants to play on the next level.

“I am super excited for them. I have been down that path, that journey so I know how it is to get to play on Sunday in the opening week. All the hoopla that goes on with that. It’s always fun to watch.”

Second-year Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed was the standard bearer for Hawkins-coached former Michigan State wide receivers in Week 1 of the NFL season. Reed, who broke Sterling Sharpe’s franchise record for receptions at Green Bay as a rookie with 68 catches last season, had four catches for 138 yards and a receiving touchdown in a narrow loss to the Eagles. Reed added a rushing touchdown on a 38-yard end around.

Reed finished his Michigan State career ranked sixth career receptions (147), seventh in receiving touchdowns (18), and 12^th in receiving yards (2,069) despite playing just three seasons for the Spartans.

NFL rookie Keon Coleman, who played two seasons for Hawkins at Michigan State before playing his final college season at Florida State, had a solid outing for Buffalo in his first regular-season game. Coleman, a second-round pick, caught five passes for 51 yards in 34-28 win over Arizona. Two of those receptions were for first downs.

Third-year NFL wideout Jalen Nailor found the end-zone for the Vikings on a 21-yard pass from Sam Darnold in 28-6 road win over the New York Giants. Nailor was selected in the sixth round of the of 2021 NFL Draft after totaling just under 1,500 receiving yards in three seasons at Michigan State.

Hawkins also had an opportunity to see the amazing one-handed grab through contact by former Michigan State wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick (Marshall) in the fourth quarter of 31-14 loss against Virginia Tech.

“I did see him stab that one, that was an impressive catch,” Hawkins said.

The performance of the week by a wide receiver, however, wasn’t in the NFL. That belonged to Michigan State freshman Nick Marsh, who was named the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week by the Maxwell Award Football Club after totaling 194 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions in a 27-24 win at Maryland last weekend.

Marsh is just scratching the surface of his college football career, but based on what we’ve seen thus far, a handful of years from now, Hawkins will be tracking him on Sundays along with Reed, Coleman, and Nailor.