
Cedrick Hawkins Jr. brings experience, range, and steady safety play to USF
In the 2025 season, Cedrick Hawkins Jr. appeared in all 13 games for South Florida and finished with 13 tackles, 1 pass breakup, and 1 fumble recovery, a useful indicator of a rotational safety who shows up around the ball. He enters 2026 as a redshirt junior at 6-foot, 192 pounds and is listed on the USF depth chart as a backup free safety, with evaluators describing him as a versatile defensive back who can play deep or in the box. The big sell: former four-star talent, legit athletic profile, and enough experience to help a secondary that values reliability and flexibility.






