Alice standout Matthew Hawkins heads to state, signs with Jacksonville College

Matthew Hawkins has put Alice back in the state conversation while also locking in his next step, turning a strong high-school career into a college opportunity with Jacksonville College. The former Alice Coyote is headed to the UIL Track & Field State Meet and has already signed to keep competing at the next level.

For Jim Wells County families, the path matters as much as the destination. Hawkins’ rise from Alice High School to the state stage shows what can happen when a student-athlete keeps advancing through the UIL ladder and meets the regional standard required to reach Austin. Only athletes who qualify through regional meets earn a place at state, which makes Hawkins’ berth a clear mark of performance, not just participation.

The 2026 UIL Track & Field State Meet is set for May 14-16 at Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium in Austin. That is the highest high-school track stage in Texas, and Hawkins will arrive there as both a current competitor and a future college athlete, a combination that reflects years of training, school support and the steady commitment it takes to stay competitive while planning for graduation.

His signing with Jacksonville College adds another layer to the story. Jacksonville College sponsors men’s and women’s track and field and lists a 2025-26 men’s track roster, giving Hawkins a place to continue his development after high school. For Alice, that is more than a personal milestone. It is another sign that athletes from the program can move from local competition to college athletics without leaving the track behind.

The timing of Hawkins’ announcement also fits a busy spring for Alice athletics. His state-meet appearance and college signing landed on the same day, giving the city and Alice High School a reason to celebrate both the present and the future at once. In a community like Alice, that pipeline from hometown program to college roster carries real weight, especially for younger athletes looking for a path to follow. Hawkins has now become one of the latest examples of that route, from Alice to Austin and on to Jacksonville College.