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Jeff Hawkins

Sports Editor

About

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Articles by Jeff Hawkins (66)

NHL Pre-Training Camp Hart Memorial Trophy Odds: BetOnline Sportsbook Favors Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon For 2024-25 MVP Honor

Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, considered by many NHL insiders as the best player in the world, adopted a more relaxed approach to his offseason training. Teammate Leon Draisaitl purchased a summer home near McDavid so the friends could coordinate workouts. Meanwhile, Nathan MacKinnon took his training to new heights. Colorado Avalanche’s slick-skating cornerstone joined […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  08 Sep 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart: Qualifying, Michael McDowell‘s Pole Position, Postseason-Opening Lineup At Atlanta Motor Speedway

Michael McDowell on Saturday continued his qualifying prowess on drafting tracks.  The NASCAR Cup Series non-playoff driver captured the pole position for Sunday’s Quaker State 400 available at Walmart, posting a hot lap of 179.261 mph at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It was the Front Row Motorsports pilot’s fifth pole position this season after opening his career with […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  07 Sep 2024
NHL Pre-Training Camp Stanley Cup Odds: BetOnline Sportsbook Favors Oilers, Panthers for Final Showdown

The entertainment value of the first go-around earned rave reviews as the Florida Panthers edged the Edmonton Oilers during last spring’s seven-game Stanley Cup Final. How about a rematch? With NHL training camps scheduled to open Sept. 15, BetOnline Sportsbook favored the Oilers (+750) and Panthers (+900) to return to the Cup final. The Oilers, […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  07 Sep 2024
Panthers Notebook: Team Captains Set; TE Signing Adds Depth; GM Dan Morgan Helps Fix Finances

The Carolina Panthers’ players picked the leaders of their peer group. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, safety/special teams ace Sam Franklin Jr., linebacker Shaq Thompson and quarterback Bryce Young were elected to serve as team captains, coach Dave Canales said Wednesday, per Panthers.com. “The people spoke,” Canales said after Wednesday’s practice. “And there was a lot […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  04 Sep 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available At Walmart Odds, Predictions & Best Bets For Postseason Opener At Atlanta Motor Speedway

Denny Hamlin, the co-owner of 23XI Racing, felt the sting of Bubba Wallace failing to earn a NASCAR Cup Series playoff spot last Sunday, but was left impressed by Chase Briscoe’s victory at Darlington Raceway.  The winning move developed with 22 laps remaining. Briscoe went low, creating a three-wide racing situation along Turn 3 at […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  04 Sep 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available At Walmart Entry List: Dates, Event Times For Postseason Opener At Atlanta Motor Speedway

Despite feeling ill and fumbling his medicine after a handoff from a pit crew member during a Stage 2 pit stop Sunday night, Tyler Reddick overcame his nauseousness to earn a P10 during the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and captured the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season championship by one point over Kyle Larson.  […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 Sep 2024
Panthers Notebook: Rookie Ja’Tavion Sanders Earns ‘0’; Team Captains Cometh; UK, Scottish Track Star Signs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders announced his intentions early.  Not long after hearing his name called in the fourth round of the NFL Draft last April, the former Texas standout said he wanted the newly freed up “0” jersey. But the rookie realized he had to earn the special designation. He […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  02 Sep 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Fans Respond To Chase Briscoe Claiming Cook Out Southern 500 Title, Earning Playoff Spot At Darlington Raceway

Chase Briscoe outran all the drama.  With the final three NASCAR Cup Series playoff spots on the line and the regular-season championship at stake during Sunday night, underdog Chase Briscoe outdueled a desperate two-time series champion to earn the Cook Out Southern 500 title.  Kyle Busch, who failed to qualify for the postseason for the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  02 Sep 2024
Carolina Hurricanes Create ‘Cornerstone’ Commitment To Re-Branded Seth Jarvis

Coming off a relatively successful, 40-point rookie campaign in 2021-22, Seth Jarvis was told by Carolina Hurricanes’ management to change. Jarvis, one of the NHL’s top offensive prospects, received instructions to revamp his offseason conditioning. He needed to focus on improving his defensive skating and positioning. “A lot of times, maybe a high-end guy comes […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  01 Sep 2024
NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500: Qualifying, Bubba Wallace’s Pole Position, Lineup For Regular-Season Finale At Darlington Raceway

Needing a big weekend at Darlington Raceway, Bubba Wallace on Saturday kick-started chances of qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs by securing the pole position for Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500. Wallace enters the circuit’s final regular-season event 21 points behind Chris Buescher for the final postseason spot. The 23XI Racing pilot established the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  31 Aug 2024