The coronavirus pandemic hit at an inopportune time for the recruitment of Raymore (Mo.) 2021 quarterback Conrad Hawley and delayed his emergence as an FBS prospect. The three-star passer stayed patient, however, and was rewarded with late interest following a standout senior season. Hawley is now headed to the Big 12 after announcing his commitment to Kansas on Tuesday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite generating interest from schools throughout the Midwest after his junior season, Hawley only held one offer, from NAIA program Missouri Baptist, when camps and visits shut down last March. FCS offers came through from Missouri State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota and Tennessee-Martin last spring. Akron gave Hawley his first FBS offer in April, but Hawley decided to bet on himself and went into his senior season uncommitted.
After throwing for 2,722 yards and 26 touchdowns, Hawley was named the top football player in the Kansas City metro area and the top offensive player in the state as a senior. Although most FBS programs had already secured their quarterback in the 2021 class, several schools started thinking creatively to secure Hawley’s services. Florida State, Iowa, Missouri and Vanderbilt each started recruiting the three-star quarterback. Alabama offered him a preferred walk-on spot. Purdue was going to offer Hawley after losing a commitment from their quarterback target shortly before the Early Signing Period. In the end, though, only Kansas put a Power Five scholarship offer on the table. He accepted that offer on Tuesday and will enroll at the school in time to start second semester classes later this month.
IN HIS WORDS
“Kansas was the right fit for me due to the coaching staff and the opportunity that was given to me. I am extremely excited to go play at a University whose coaching staff has told me time and time again that I am their guy and the guy they see changing the program. I also feel like I fit the system extremely well, and cannot wait to help change the culture and work with my new team. I also cannot wait to represent the University of Kansas with class, work ethic, and leadership.”
RIVALS’ REACTION
The first time I saw Hawley live was at the Lindenwood Mega Camp before his junior season, and he jumped off the field at me then. Twenty years ago, Hawley would have generated a dozen offers by spring after his junior season, but big, strong-armed quarterbacks are not as in-demand at the high-college level these days. Hawley had to prove he was more dynamic than the tall, statuesque quarterbacks that populated the game in the 80’s and 90’s, and that is exactly what he did in a senior season that brought offensive player of the year honors and a state title.
Hawley is not a dual-threat quarterback, but he has enough mobility to keep plays alive when the pocket breaks down. More importantly, he displayed leadership and moxie to complement his passing abilities and be a complete captain of the offense. Kansas already had a quarterback commit from Ben Easters, but Hawley has a higher floor and gives the Jayhawks needed depth at the game’s most important position.
