Published April 26, 2019 on Sports Illustrated.
I formed a relationship with Dwayne Haskins family while he played at Ohio State and got access with the quarterback during the 48 hours surrounding his draft night.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Dwayne Haskins Sr. presides over a long table of close family and friends gathered for a late lunch at Red Lobster. Everyone sitting at the table is involved with Haskins & Haskins Group, an entertainment and event production firm that Haskins Sr. created. The group is meeting now to run through the details for that evening’s draft party at the bowling alley across the parking lot. Most of the group are in black or white hats and hoodies embroidered with the H&H logo. Dwayne Sr., his wife, Tammy, and daughter, Tamia, got the logo permanently tattooed on their wrists in black ink the day before the draft. Dwayne Haskins Jr., CEO of Haskins & Haskins and one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2019 draft, will get his tattoo later on. He’s been a little preoccupied lately. Dwayne Jr. is the reason for this planning meeting, but he’s not here—he’s getting in a boxing and throwing workout before the night’s festivities begin.
“Every person that is out in the front or in the lobby, make sure you engage, shake hands and show everybody your pearly white teeth,” Sr. says. “Can we all do that? Let's practice that now.”