2025 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Gavin Hawley, DL, Pacific Lutheran University

Meet Gavin Hawley, a standout defensive lineman from Pacific Lutheran University, as he prepares for the 2025 NFL Draft. Check out this Draft Diamonds interview with Gavin.

Name: Gavin Hawley

Position: Defensive Line

College: Pacific Lutheran University 

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 290 pounds

Twitter: @GavinHawley3

Instagram: @gavinhawley90

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2025 NFL Draft?

I am hard working, I’ve had to earn every step in my football career. I can pick up new defensive schemes quickly and on the fly. 

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

I am family and faith oriented. I am a loyal person, I will stay where I am wanted. I will give everything I have on every rep as I’ve had to earn everything football wise. 

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?

ALS 1, it is a program on the East Coast that supports in ALS research. There aren’t any currently or that are known well enough on the west coast. 

Who was your role model?

JJ Watt and Tom Brady, their work ethic and desire for the love of football made me fall in love with the game early. 

Who is your favorite NFL team?

New England Patriots 

Who is the most underrated teammate at your school?

Nico Golla, he is also a Defensive lineman with me. He is on the shorter end but he has a drive and work ethic like no other. 

What is your biggest pet peeve?

when player say they care and get on other for not caring and then you look back and the player telling everyone to car isn’t paying attention. 

Who is your favorite teacher ever?

Mr. Hart, he was my exercise science teacher at Hillcrest High School in Midvale, Utah. He wasn’t a top performer in school but he made sure that when he was dedicated he could learn anything and everything he could about the subject. 

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome?

My freshman year of high school. I was brought up to varsity and the coach whom I had known for years was our head coach has brought me up and saw me taking a rep off. He proceeded to say “If I ever see that again I wouldn’t ever recommend you for varsity again”. One week later he passed away unexpectedly. I spent that whole summer trying to win his trust and once he was gone all I wanted to do was make him proud. 

Last season (my junior year of college) I was having an all-conference/ possible All-American season and I broke my leg towards the end of the season. I could finish out the season with those seniors and I was out on a 9 month which was supposed to be 4 month recovery. I got surgery then they took one of the screws out and a few months later the incision got infected. Then one month before our first game this season (my senior year) I had surgery and was out for 3 weeks. I am not getting back all of the lost athleticism. 

If you could have any franchise restaurant in your house what would it be?

Chipotle

What is your favorite snack food?

Chicken in a Bisket

What is your degree in?

Major in Kinesiology: Concentration is exercise science 

Minor in Business 

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why?

JJ Watt: to pick his brain on defensive schemes and what he would do to better himself daily

Denny Hawley (My uncle who recently passed): I would like to talk to him and genuinely be able to say goodbye. Also just pick his brain about business and see how he achieved what he did.

Mr. Hart: To be able to talk with him about exercise science and have to ability to absorb more information on how he successfully accomplished the knowledge he has. 

What is your biggest weakness?

I can be overconfident in my abilities at times and I tend to try certain concepts that I may not have the know how or ability to achieve. 

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at [email protected]