Published: May 09, 2009 11:57 pm      

Artrell Hawkins co-host on Internet radio

Former New York Jets coach Eric Mangini once noted that Johnstown’s Artrell Hawkins has that “deep Barry White voice” and predicted that Hawkins eventually would land in the broadcast booth.

That voice might carry Hawkins to a second successful chapter of his NFL career. The Bishop McCort graduate is a co-host of 2 Deep Zone, an Internet radio show that also includes his football-playing brothers Andrew and Avery as well as Mixed Martial Arts fighter Rich Thurston.

“We’re kind of doing our own thing,” said Hawkins, who played nine NFL seasons at defensive back with the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots. “We started right after the draft. We do it once a week, every Tuesday.”

Just as he did in the NFL – when he played multiple positions and special teams in order to earn valuable playing time – Hawkins will rely on his versatility and willingness to learn.

“The analyst work and in-studio work, I think I can do that with my eyes shut. But I want to learn every aspect of it, color commentating, sideline reporting,” Hawkins said. “(NFL Network broadcaster) Solomon Wilcox lives in Cincinnati. He’s helped me out a lot.

“I’ve been in touch with the NFL Network. I just want to learn every avenue I can. I don’t want to be a flash in the pan. I want to get in there and learn it, become qualified and be professional.”

Hawkins hopes to follow a similar post-football career path as another Johnstown native who graduated from Bishop McCort.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with Jack Ham,” Hawkins said of the Penn State football broadcaster who won four Super Bowls during a Hall of Fame career with the Steelers. “I really want to meet him. I’ve heard he’s a good guy.”

Hawkins will host a Saturday “premiere party” in Pittsburgh for Andrew Hawkins, who will be on the Michael Irvin reality TV show “4th and Long,” beginning on May 18.

“I can’t say enough about the kid,” Hawkins said. “He’s inspired me to live out my dream and keep doing what I want to do now, which is broadcasting.”