Lawton to continue football career at URI

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 2/9/16

Bishop Hendricken tight end Trevor Lawton committed to the University of Rhode Island last week, making it official that the All-Stater will continue his playing career on the gridiron collegiately. …

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Lawton to continue football career at URI

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Bishop Hendricken tight end Trevor Lawton committed to the University of Rhode Island last week, making it official that the All-Stater will continue his playing career on the gridiron collegiately.

The commitment fulfilled a lifelong dream for Lawton, as playing Division I football has been a goal of his ever since he threw on the pads in seventh grade.

“Most kids started young, but I started playing football in seventh grade, and I just loved it,” Lawton said. “My first goal was to play D-I football. So when URI contacted me, I thought it would be cool to play in-state, play close to my family and friends so they can come watch.”

And Lawton won’t be the only Hawk that will be suiting up for the Rams. Fellow senior and All-State linebacker, Shane Olson, also made a commitment to URI last week. The pair of standouts will join former Hendricken defensive back Power Kanga who just completed his freshman season in the Rams’ secondary.

Lawton believes that level of comfortability, going in already knowing some of his teammates, should make the transition easier for him.

“The first year I played, in seventh grade, Shane was actually on my team,” Lawton said. “It’s going to be cool to play with him there, and we’re going to room together. And then I know Power from when I transferred in to Hendricken. So going in I’m not going to be as nervous because I’ll know a couple of kids.”

Lawton will certainly be bringing a winning pedigree to URI.

Not many high school football players around the state can say that they’ve won three championships, but Lawton can.

He won a Division II title at West Warwick during his sophomore year before transferring to Hendricken for the start of his junior year.

Sometimes athletes make transfers that don’t necessarily work out, but this wasn’t the case for Lawton.

Sitting out part of the year due to Rhode Island Interscholastic League rules was tough. However, he would make an impact when it mattered the most that season.

In the Super Bowl, Lawton had his coming out party, hauling in five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown.

And he picked up from where he left off this fall, serving as the team leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches.

It’s safe to say that the transfer worked out well for Lawton.

“I’m very thankful,” Lawton said of his transfer to Hendricken. “It was tough at first because I had to sit out half the year, so it stunk watching my friends play while I’m sitting out. But my breakout game was the Super Bowl in my junior year. In my senior year, we all just picked up where we left off and went undefeated. I almost had a touchdown every game, so I’m happy I did it. I met a lot of good friends and the coaches were great, and it obviously worked out because I ended up at URI.”

Lawton plans on continuing to stick to the tight end position, hoping to earn some playing time right away if it works out that way.

“Playing as a freshman would be awesome,” Lawton said. “Honestly, my goal is to just make the travel team. That way, I’m ready whenever they need me. But if they want me to play right away, of course I’ll do it. I’m going to be a tight end mostly. They have a starting tight end right now, but they don’t have a backup. So I’m mostly going to be playing tight end.”

Although URI has had its fair share of struggles, compiling just a 1-10 record this season, that didn’t turn Lawton away from the program.

If anything, it made the opportunity that much more appealing.

After all, what would be better than an in-state player having a hand in turning around the fortunes of an in-state program.

“They have struggled, but they have a lot of talent, and I know last year they had a really young team,” Lawton said. “I feel like to help turn the program around and start winning would be pretty cool – to be the hometown kid in your home state would be pretty cool.”

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