Desert football stars Tayler Hawkins, Trenton Thompson ready for their NFL preseason debuts

The football careers of Tayler Hawkins and Trenton Thompson have forever been linked.

The dynamic defensive backfield duo played together at Palm Springs High School. Then they played together at San Diego State University.

This week, they are playing again, but this will be the first time they are not on the same team. In fact, they are on different sides of the country.

Hawkins is an undrafted free agent in the San Francisco 49ers camp, and Thompson is an undrafted free agent in the New York Giants camp. Both have their first big chance to showcase their talents this weekend as NFL teams start their preseason slate.

NFL exhibition games don't mean a lot to most fans, but for players like Hawkins and Thompson they are huge. Both are trying to make the opening day roster for their respective teams, and these preseason games are the best way to make an impression.

Let's take a closer look at where both stand in their quest to make the team and join the small fraternity of men who have made an NFL roster after playing high school football in the desert.

Tayler Hawkins with the 49ers

Position: Safety

Jersey number: 41

Depth chart: ESPN lists Hawkins as the No. 4 strong safety; NFL scouting service OurLads.com lists Hawkins as the No. 3 strong safety

Training camp chatter: Hawkins has had an up and down camp according to those who cover the 49ers every day. On Aug. 3 which featured a lot of one-on-one battles, Hawkins shined, outplaying his receiving opponent Troy Fumagalli on the day. Two days ago, his name popped up on social media for getting juked to the ground by running back Jeff Wilson Jr. Such are the vagaries of training camp. Rohan Chakravarthi who covers the team for 49ers WebZone lists Hawkins as the fifth-best player in the safety group. Teams generally keep four or five safeties on their roster. Hawkins has some work to do to make the roster, and the preseason games are a great place for him to make an impression.

Opening game: Packers at 49ers, 5:30 p.m. Friday, NFL Network

Trenton Thompson with the Giants

Position: Safety

Jersey number: 39

Depth chart: ESPN lists Thompson as the No. 3 strong safety with the Giants; OurLads.com lists Thompson as the No. 3 free safety with the Giants

Training camp chatter: By all accounts from Giants insiders, Thompson has had a good camp so far. In recent practices he was one of the two safeties working with the second-team defense. On Tuesday during one simulated play he had an interception of starting quarterback Daniel Jones. What makes Thompson an even more attractive player to keep on the roster is that he is also a valuable special teams player. He blocked multiple kicks in college. On Wednesday, NorthJersey.com predicted the Giants' final roster and they had Thompson just missing out, so he is definitely one of those cusp players that can move into or off of the roster with a good next three weeks.

Opening game: Giants at Patriots, 4 p.m. Thursday, NFL Network

What about Daniel Whelan?

Like Hawkins and Thompson, Rancho Mirage High School grad and punter Daniel Whelan was an undrafted free agent in the New Orleans Saints camp.

However, on July 26 before training camp began, the Saints cut Whelan along with two other players when they agreed to terms with three new players.

As of Wednesday, Whelan has not been added to any other training camp roster.

If Hawkins or Thompson or even Whelan do make an opening day roster, they would be the first desert player to hit the field during a regular season game since Oct. 20, 2019 when Palm Desert grad DJ Alexander played his final NFL game for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: NFL preseason: Tayler Hawkins, Trenton Thompson hope to shine for 49ers, Giants