Walker is a town with a population of less than 5,000.So when one of Walker’s own, LSU junior cornerback Chris Hawkins, trotted onto the field Aug. 30 as an LSU starter for the first time, he instantly became a local legend.”That week of the game, I had a lot of random family calling my phone and just telling me how proud they are that someone from Walker was going to be playing this year,” Hawkins said. “That really hit home for the first game, knowing that I had arrived.Hawkins’ local fame turned into statewide stardom Saturday against Auburn after intercepting two passes in just his third career start, including one on fourth down with Auburn driving in LSU territory.”Chris Hawkins has arrived,” said senior wide receiver Demetrius Byrd. “I’ve been knowing he had that in him, and I’m glad he showed it in such a big game.”LSU coach Les Miles agreed with Byrd and said Hawkins was one of LSU’s players of the week against Auburn.”He’s tremendously talented in coverage,” Miles said. “I feel he is playing really strong football.” Hawkins signed with LSU after a decorated football and track and field career at Walker High School, where he was rated the No. 9 cornerback in the country by Rivals.com.Growing up just 20 miles from the LSU campus, Hawkins took only one official visit and said there was never a doubt what school he would attend.”I probably committed to LSU when I was playing in Pee-Wee leagues,” he said. “That’s the only school I ever wanted to go to.”Hawkins redshirted in 2005 and played sparingly in 2006 before playing in nickel and dime situations last season, recording 13 tackles and three pass breakups.And when the final seconds of the clock ticked away in the 2007 national championship game, it was the end of the careers of many LSU seniors.But the graduation of starters Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon also marked a new beginning for Hawkins.Hawkins said he spent the spring and summers working on his game and trying to fill the leadership role played by LSU’s two previous starters.”I had to set the right examples,” he said. “If I showed up late to a meeting, the younger guys could look and say ‘Hawkins showed up late,’ and think that was the right way to do things.”Sophomore cornerback Jai Eugene said Hawkins’ guidance helped him prepare to move into the starting lineup this season.”He didn’t have a ton of playing experience, but he’s seen the battles and been inside the ropes long enough to be able to step in and make an instant impact,” Eugene said.Co-defensive coordinator Doug Mallory said both Hawkins and Eugene are major reasons why LSU is continuing the success it enjoyed under former coordinator Bo Pelini.Through three games, LSU is allowing just 252 total yards per game and just 197 passing yards, despite facing three pass-heavy offenses. “We’re talented at the corner spot,” he said. “The guys that were waiting in the wings have made tremendous strides.”Hawkins said being on the field is much different than he initially expected — although it is not necessarily a bad thing.”I’ve been through a lot of tough things in practice, because I’ve practiced against some great guys like Dwayne Bowe and JaMarcus [Russell],” he said. “The games have been kind of slower than in practice because the coaches put us in tough positions in practice.”But Hawkins experienced a few bumps in the road early in his career as a starter, giving up 11 catches for 75 yards to  All- American North Texas receiver Casey Fitzgerald, in LSU’s 41-3 win Sept. 13 against the Mean Green.After Hawkins’ performance against Auburn, Byrd said whatever doubt anyone had about Hawkins should be gone.”Everyone underestimated him because his guy had a couple catches on him in that North Texas game,” he said. “But I like him back there.”—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]