2016 College Football Recruits Who Also Excel in Basketball

Football may be the ticket to a free collegiate education for many high school athletes, but it isn't always their sole athletic passion. Some stay busy participating—and thriving—in other sports arenas.

Basketball takes center stage in March as folks fill out college basketball brackets, and state champions are crowned across the country. With that in mind, we shine the spotlight on several premier football prospects who spent their winter doing damage on the hardwood. 

4-Star QB D'Eriq King

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 269 overall; No. 16 dual-threat quarterback

High School: Manvel High School (Manvel, Texas)

Recruitment Status: Committed to TCU

Hoops Highlights

D'Eriq King helped Manvel compile 20 victories in 2014, serving as a defensive catalyst and supplemental scorer. He netted double-digit scoring efforts twice in the team's final four February games, per MaxPreps.

The 5'9.5", 170-pound playmaker made his biggest impact in the backcourt as a swarming defender. He swiped away four steals in six contests and also averaged 6.3 assists per game, leading the program in both categories.

King completed 66 percent of pass attempts as a junior, throwing for 3,050 yards and 47 touchdowns. He added another 789 yards and 12 scores on the ground.

4-Star WR Brad Hawkins

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 161 overall; No. 33 wide receiver

High School: Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey)

Recruitment Status: Interest includes Ohio State, Florida, South Carolina, Rutgers and Michigan

Hoops Highlights

Brad Hawkins helped lead perennial New Jersey powerhouse Camden to the Group II state championship game as a junior. He led the Panthers in steals and assists, while averaging 15 points per game, according to MaxPreps.

Hawkins erupted for at least 20 points in nine games during a 25-win campaign, including 25 points in the state semifinal victory. He now has 19 20-point efforts since his sophomore season.

The 6'2", 190-pound prospect caught a career-high 51 passes for 748 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014. Hawkins provided a versatile weapon, racking up 255 yards and two scores as a rusher. 

3-Star DE J.C. Chalk

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 578 overall; No. 20 tight end

High School: Argyle High School (Argyle, Texas)

Recruitment Status: Committed to Clemson

Hoops Highlights

The Texas All-District selection spearheaded his squad to the third round of state playoffs. J.C. Chalk, the grandson of College Football Hall of Fame coach Gene Stallings, starred during a 26-win season that featured a district title.

Chalk accounted for 14 points in the championship-clinching victory, per Steve Gamel of the Denton Record-Chronicle. 

The 6'3", 225-pound prospect is coming off a career-best campaign on the football field. He hauled in 34 receptions for 460 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014, per MaxPreps.

3-Star TE T.J. Hockenson

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 1,122 overall; No. 47 tight end

High School: Chariton High School (Chariton, Iowa)

Recruitment Status: Interest includes Iowa State, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan State and Missouri

Hoops Highlights

One of the true athletic freaks of the Midwest, T.J. Hockenson enjoyed a monster junior year on both the hardwood and gridiron.

The 6'5", 220-pound recruit was a second-team All-State selection in basketball last season after averaging more than 20 points per game. He dominated at both ends of the court as a forward-guard combo.

Hockenson was a first-team All-State selection in football. He caught 73 passes for 1,116 yard and 18 touchdowns, per Alex Halsted of Scout.com.

4-Star ATH Marquez Callaway

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 52 overall; No. 2 athlete

High School: Warner Robins High School (Warner Robins, Georgia)

Recruitment Status: Interest includes Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina and Notre Dame

Hoops Highlights

Marquez Callaway, considered a candidate to play wide receiver or defensive back in college, was a catalyst throughout the Demons' 2015 playoff run. He led the the team to a monumental upset of Peach State powerhouse Miller Grove in state postseason action.

Callaway sank all 17 of his free-throw attempts in the contest, per MaxPreps. He tallied 24 total points on the biggest stage of his basketball career.

The 6'2", 170-pound athlete emerged on the national college football recruiting scene as a sophomore, when Callaway captured seven interceptions.

3-Star WR Dillon Mitchell

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 347 overall; No. 58 overall

High School: White Station High School (Memphis, Tennessee)

Recruitment Status: Committed to Oregon

Hoops Highlights

Dillon Mitchell could potentially play both basketball and football when he becomes a Duck.

The 6'1", 180-pound prospect averaged 14 points and 10 assists as a sophomore for nationally ranked White Station and collected basketball scholarship offers from the likes of UCLA and Cal, according to John Martin of The Commercial Appeal.

Mitchell also excels on the football field and is expected to contribute on offense at Oregon. He's also a candidate to make an impact on special teams.

3-Star DE Jamal Holloway

Credit: Tyler Donohue

247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 398 overall; No. 24 weak-side defensive end

High School: Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey)

Recruitment Status: Interest includes Rutgers, Michigan State, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Virginia

Hoops Highlights

Until recently, Jamal Holloway was more known for his hoops prowess than his effectiveness as an edge-defender. The 6'3", 215-pound playmaker led Camden to the state championship game, posting program highs in points (16.3 per game) and rebounds (12.7 per game), per MaxPreps.

He's developed into a dominant defender for the Panthers football squad. Holloway racked up 99 tackles and 13 sacks during the past two seasons and has plenty of room for growth.

"Jamal is what we call a 'freak athlete,' and there's a lot of room for him to grow," Camden football coach Dwayne Savage told Bleacher Report last season. "He's a natural pass-rusher who is really just starting to understand the game. He's the kind of player who can continue to improve when he gets to college. It's all about finding the right fit for him."

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.