After four years of donning the blue and white, Penn State football defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins has decided to turn the page away from his playing career.

The former three-star product announced his retirement Wednesday afternoon after sustaining several lingering injuries throughout his time in Happy Valley.

Thank you. pic.twitter.com/q8eC0AZHM9

— Aeneas Hawkins (@AeneasHawkins) January 5, 2022

“After four years and many conversations with those closest to me, I’ve made the decision to end my football career,” Hawkins said. “Although much of my time in college was spent battling injury, my experience as a Penn State student-athlete was better than I could have ever imagined.”

Following a stellar career at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Hawkins chose Penn State over national powers in Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State.

Upon his arrival on campus, the Ohio native was redshirted in 2018 to preserve future eligibility. As a sophomore, Hawkins appeared in just one contest, which would ultimately serve as just one of two matchups he saw action in as a Nittany Lion.

Despite not recording any stats throughout his tenure, Hawkins served as a vital asset to the developmental squad. In 2020, he was recognized as the Developmental Squad Defensive Player of the Week twice for his preparation efforts ahead of matchups with Nebraska and Rutgers.

Although Hawkins will not be lacing it up next fall for James Franklin’s program, the senior will remain at the university and graduate with a broadcast journalism degree in the summer.