Two thoughts in particular crossed Jaylon Hawkins’ mind before his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Saturday night against Portland State: “Don’t trip” and “Go score.”
Hawkins avoided the first challenge, which enabled him to accomplish the second objective.
“The return before that I could have broken it,” Hawkins said, “but I tripped up at the last little second. In my mind, it was definitely pick my feet up, don’t trip up. … It was my first time taking a kick back all the way, so it was very exciting.”
The third-quarter TD was the ninth 100-yard kickoff return in SDSU history. Jordan Byrd had been the last to do it, in 2021 against Utah. Rashaad Penny four 100-yard returns among his NCAA-record-tying seven kickoff return TDs from 2015-17.
Hawkins, a redshirt freshman from Argyle, Texas, is expected to be named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Vikings.
Jaylon Hawkins House Call ✌️
📺: @usasports #AztecFAST 🍢 x #BeTheA1pha 🐺 x #TheClimb 📈 pic.twitter.com/D2Jmh3ouCT
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) September 6, 2026
On the play, Hawkins field the ball about three yards deep in the end zone, got a couple blocks as he brought the ball out, broke a tackle at the 20-yard line, then pointed himself toward the right sideline.
“It was set up to go to the right, but when the time comes, you have to make a play to be a football player,” Hawkins said.
He avoided an ankle tackle at the SDSU 48-yard line, made a cutback at midfield, avoided another ankle tackle at the Portland State 37, then made it untouched the rest of the way with six teammates running interference.
“Before the play in the huddle, talking to my kick return team, asking them to block, they said they were going to block for me,” Hawkins said. “We practiced it all week. I’ve got trust in them. They’ve got trust in me. … We just went out there and executed.”
SDSU’s 100-yard kickoff returns
Jaylon Hawkins became the ninth player in program history with a 100-yard kickoff return (college rules limit the kick to100 yards even when received in the end zone) when he accomplished the feat in the third quarter of Saturday’s win over Portland State. The list:
100 — Jaylon Hawkins vs. Portland State, Sept. 5, 2026 (W, 53-20)
100 — Jordan Byrd vs. Utah, Sept. 18, 2021 (W, 33-31 (OT))
100 — Rashaad Penny vs. Nevada*, Nov. 18, 2017 (W, 42-23)
100 — Rashaad Penny vs. California, Sept. 10, 2016 (W, 45-40)
100 — Rashaad Penny vs. Cincinnati (HB), Dec. 24, 2015 (W, 42-7)
100 — Rashaad Penny at Penn State, Sept. 26, 2015 (L, 21-37)
100 — Colin Lockett at (19) Boise State*, Nov. 3, 2012 (W, 21-19)
100 — Charlie Crews vs. UTEP*, Nov. 17, 1979 (W, 42-20)
100 — Mel Jacobs vs. North Texas, Sept. 20, 1975 (W, 31-10)
* – Indicates conference game.