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Syracuse is expected to hire Jeremy Hawkins as its defensive line coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on social media Tuesday night. Hawkins spent the last two years as Georgia State’s defensive line coach, and was elevated to an assistant head coaching role in 2025.

Under Hawkins’ guidance, the Panthers posted a 1-11 record, the worst in the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia State’s defense recorded just 18 sacks, the fourth-worst mark in its conference and forced three fumbles, the second-fewest.

Hawkins’ expertise is in recruiting, though. He was known as one of the SBC’s top recruiters, according to Zenitz, helping the Panthers add 29 players to their 2025 class. That group, ranked 59th in the nation per ESPN, was the highest-rated 2025 signing class among all Sun Belt programs.

Since Syracuse’s nightmarish season ended, the team had little stability with its defensive coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Elijah Robinson was demoted to D-line coach but has since drawn interest from Nebraska and LSU, signaling he could leave the program. Linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Robert Wright and defensive backs coach Joe Schaefer were dismissed. And on Monday, edge rushers coach Nick Williams left for Florida State, creating the vacancy Hawkins will fill.

Alongside newly-hired defensive coordinator Vince Kehres, Hawkins will play a large role in reshaping SU’s defense. Syracuse’s inability to generate a consistent pass rush mirrored its overall defensive struggles. The Orange finished in the bottom half of the Atlantic Coast Conference in sacks the past two seasons, and allowed a conference-worst 34.9 points per game in 2025.

Published on December 9, 2025 at 9:20 pm
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