A.J. Hawk said there's absolutely no secret to being an All-Pro NFL linebacker.
"It's all about hard work and being consistent," Hawk told MaxPreps reporter Zack Poff.
You have to be a good tackler too, which Hawk showed off last week at the 25th Annual American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe.
Hawk, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound 30-year old for the Packers, took out a willing and able "patron" who asked to be tackled. The stick was caught on video, which has since gone viral.
"It was like a big frat party," Hawk explained. "They asked me to tackle their buddy. He was a big dude. I finally obliged and gave him a good hit."
Hawk was good natured about the entire exchange and the "frat boys" were thrilled.
"It worked out well," Hawk said with a smirk. "I felt good about the tackle. He exposed his ribs and let me hit him. It was fun."
Hawk said it wasn't always fun at
Centerville (Ohio), where he started as a freshman and graduated in 2001. He holds numerous school records, including a remarkable 31 tackles in a single game, and 583 tackles in a career.
"High school was the foundation for everything," Hawk said. "I had some awesome high school coaches. It was no joke. They took it serious every day. … It was an amazing time."
