Jawon Hamilton
Running Back / James Madison
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Jawon Hamilton: 5’9, 195 pounds and I haven’t clocked myself in a forty in forever. I am sure that I will clock in a pretty good time.
Alex Khvatov: How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Jawon Hamilton: You are not allowed to be on campus, but the coaches send us the same workouts that we would do during offseason training. I do conditioning, lifting weights and running. I am also working out with a trainer back home. I transferred in 2017. I broke my ankle against Maryland when I was at UCF. I started my freshman year and two games my sophomore year. I broke my fibula. Ankle injury is a tough one to come back from. I am 100% healed up. I am back to normal again. I am in the best shape of my life.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Jawon Hamilton: Track and field. Our high school coach didn’t allow us to play football if we didn’t run track. I ran 100 and 200 meters as well as the 4×100 relay.
Alex Khvatov: How has track helped you on the football?
Jawon Hamilton: You know how to run. Having that form, changes the way you run. It helps you pick up speed. You see a difference on the football field between a guy with a track background and a normal football player. Track has helped me change my stride. I have always been fast and quick. I was able to open up my stride in track and learn how to run.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Jawon Hamilton: I was born and raised in Miami, FL. I have played RB since I have been five years old. I played RB, in high school. I played around on defense, but I was too much of a threat at RB. I was always versatile. I would make guys miss as a RB and in the return game. My first commitment was to FIU. Then I started getting bigger offers and have big games in high school. Louisville, Kansas and Miami offered me. Then I committed to Miami, but the new coaches came in and they didn’t honor my scholarship. I had plenty of other scholarships.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose UCF?
Jawon Hamilton: Coach Frost just swept me off my feet. I felt the love from them. Kevin Smith was a quality control and RB’s coach. He is the all-time leading rusher in yards at the school. He is from Miami. We had that connection. Those guys recruited me hard.
Alex Khvatov: What was it like being a part of the perfect 13-0 season at UCF in 2017?
Jawon Hamilton: It was great. We became a winning program. That locker room was amazing. I will forever be friends with those guys on the team. The locker room at JMU is also close like at UCF. We are like a family. It was a great season. We beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to James Madison?
Jawon Hamilton: I got injured. I made a bad decision. I have bounced back. I decided to transfer because I got into some trouble. I needed a fresh start. I am not a troublemaker. I made one mistake. I learned from it. I always learn from my past experiences. I know that it will never happen again. I have the love for the game. The thought of having football taking away from me was hard.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your junior season at James Madison in 2019.
Jawon Hamilton: From the team perspective, we all knew what happened in 2018. We lost a second-round game in the playoffs against Colgate. It left a bad taste in our mouth. The new coaching staff came in. We all bought into it. We worked hard. James Madison is like a Power 5 school. Any guy on this roster can play at a Power 5 school. We have great talent. We committed and achieved great results. It was a fun season. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Individually, I had 168 attempts for 912 yards, five TD’s and 5.4 yards per carry. I had 143 yards against Rhoden Island. I had 16 receptions. I scored a 50-yard receiving TD. In 2018, I had 417 yards and one TD as a kick returner. I had over 27 yards per return that year. During the 2019 season, I averaged 29.2 yards per return. They avoided kicking to me most of the time. I had over 1,000 all-purpose yards. I gave it my all. I thank God for this fifth year coming up. My senior year of high school was my best season. I always finish stronger than when I started. I finish with the bang. I am expecting a big year as a senior.
Alex Khvatov: You had the opportunity to make a deep run in the FCS playoffs last year. What was it like to play in the Championship game against North Dakota State?
Jawon Hamilton: North Dakota State is a great team. You can’t lack in any areas when you play them. We had a great game plan. We just needed to execute a little bit better.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Jawon Hamilton: My versatility. I have the ability to change the game. There is a big play waiting to happen when I touch the ball. I am good in space. I use my speed and I have the moves to beat the defender. I have a good football IQ and I watch film.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Jawon Hamilton: Pass blocking is the one area I need to improve. I need to work on my form. A lot of the times, I get the job done, but I still need to get better. Also staying on my feet better. Sometimes I go down from those shoestring tackles. I need to break more tackles.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Jawon Hamilton: One game stands out at the collegiate level. We played against Stony Brook, and I scored the game-winning TD in OT. I had a good game. I went over 100 yards. Winning the Peach Bowl with UCF. I wasn’t physically on the field, but it was a great moment. Making it to Frisco this past season was a great moment too with a great group of guys.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest thing that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Jawon Hamilton: All of my coaches told me to just be yourself. Don’t overdo it. My RB coach at JMU specifically preaches being uncommon on and off the field. Every time he comes to a meeting room, he always talks about being uncommon.
Alex Khvatov: You are a kick returner for your team. Do you take a lot of pride in that part of your game?
Jawon Hamilton: I take a lot of pride in it. I am always on the side catching balls even in between drills. I am catching a lot of passes from a jugs machine. Putting in the extra work and catching kick returns after practice. You will get better when you keep working at it.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your teammate RB Percy Agyei-Obese?
Jawon Hamilton: Percy is my brother. The whole group of running backs is like my family. We are always rooting for each other. When I look to the sideline, they are always fired up. We pray a lot together with Percy. He is a great guy. He is a hard-nosed player. I am excited to see where he goes. Percy is a dog. The stats speak for themselves. He is an animal.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Jawon Hamilton: I was a Miami Dolphins fan. As I got older, I want to make my run for the NFL. I would be happy to go anywhere to any one of these organizations.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Jawon Hamilton: Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. I played against Dalvin Cook in Miami. I watched Lamar Miller in high school. I went to one of his games. Duke Johnson is another player that I have kept up with because he is from Miami.
Alex Khvatov: Before the ball is snapped, what are the tendencies that you are looking for from the defense?
Jawon Hamilton: I look at the safeties. You can always see which way they are rotating. I look at how the linebackers are lined up and where they will blitz from. I pay attention to the B gap, the DL who is lined up there can give away their defensive call. Our RB coach has taught us a lot about football 101.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Jawon Hamilton: RB Percy Agyei-Obese, D’Angelo Amos and Wayne Davis who was an Ohio State transfer. WR Jake Brown, DL Mike Green is a big guy and CB Wesley McCormick. The whole running back group – Solomon Vanhorse, Latrele Palmer and Austin Douglas. They are all very talented. WR Devin Ravenel who had an older brother that played here and Que Reed.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Jawon Hamilton: On defense, it was Jabrill Peppers. When I was at UCF, we played against Michigan. I was a starting RB, and he was a very aggressive player. He was always around the ball and a great return guy. On the offensive side, it was Dalvin Cook in high school.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Jawon Hamilton: Having the ability to hit a man without getting in trouble. I like to leave it all out on the field. I love this game and I can’t take it for granted. I want to be able to take care of my family.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from James Madison this season?
Jawon Hamilton: We are a hard-nosed football team. We are a winning program. We lost a lot of guys, but not many people know the depth that we had last year. The young guys have a lot of potential to be good. I am excited to see what is going to happen. We should compete for a national championship,
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Jawon Hamilton: I love music. I write a few songs. Music helps me release everything that is going in my life. I like to work out or jog. I always want to stay active. I like hanging out with friends. I like positive energy.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Jawon Hamilton: I should get my sociology degree in December. I want to get enough money to invest and own a gym. I want to train others. I thank God for James Madison University. By getting a degree from here will give me an opportunity to get a good job. I want to stay around the game. Coaching or training. I love the game.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Jawon Hamilton: Positive, versatile, energetic, loving and determined.
