For most college athletes, playing time increases the deeper they delve into their college careers.
There are certainly exceptions, with Georgia senior defensive lineman DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle being an example. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder from Atlanta was a consensus three-star prospect coming out of Westlake High School and quickly made his mark as a freshman in 2015, playing in 10 games and making two starts.
Hawkins-Muckle played in seven games as a sophomore, which coincided with Kirby Smart’s first season as Bulldogs head coach, and just six last year as a junior.
“It’s been a long four years, but I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” Hawkins-Muckle said this week in a news conference. “Having a coach like Kirby by my side and motivating me, I feel very confident. It’s a different mindset knowing that it’s my last year and that I’m going to have to be in the real world after this.
“I’m attacking things differently than I was as a freshman. I’m healthy, and I’m ready to play.”