Tayler Hawkins, Trenton Thompson and Daniel Whelan land NFL free-agent deals following draft
Coachella Valley natives Tayler Hawkins, Trenton Thompson and Daniel Whelan each signed NFL free agent contract Saturday, following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft. Hawkins signed with the San Francisco 49ers, Thompson with the New York Giants and Whelan with the New Orleans Saints.
Hawkins and Thompson are a former defensive backs at San Diego State, and the pair helped Palm Springs High School to a CIF football championship in 2014. Whelan, a punter who broke numerous records at UC-Davis, helped Rancho Mirage High to a CIF championship game in 2016.
“He just does some things and you go, 'That’s unbelievable. Just amazing,'” UC-Davis head coach Dan Hawkins said last year about Whelan.
The three area natives are the latest football players from the valley to sign an NFL contract. D. J. Alexander, a Palm Desert High graduate who played at Oregon State and retired from football in 2019, is believed to be the last valley player to play in the NFL.
The three are expected to participate in rookie mini-camp this spring and training camp this summer.
"They won't regret this," Hawkins posted on Instagram. "I'm ready to work!"
College of the Desert standout defensive end Datona Jackson, who played collegiately at UCLA, is also likely to get a training camp invite.
Hawkins and Thompson were All-Mountain West selections last season at defensive back. Whalen was an All-Big Sky selection for three years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tayler Hawkins, Trenton Thompson and Daniel Whelan sign NFL contracts
