FOXBORO -- Shawne Merriman isn't the only player in today's Patriots-Chargers AFC Conference semifinal game with the nickname "Lights Out."

But unfortunately for Artrell Hawkins, he was given the moniker after blacking out from a couple of hits in high school, not from administering knockout hits, like Merriman did.

"They called me 'Lights Out,' because I got concussions from time to time," Hawkins recalled with a chuckle Friday before practice.

The 30-year-old safety, who played prep ball at Bishop McCort High in western Pennsylvania before moving on to the University of Cincinnati, has had a lot to smile about since coming to the Patriots last season.

Signed as an extra body in the secondary when there seemed to be injuries to that unit every week, Hawkins has become much more than an emergency option -- he started 12 of 14 games this season at free safety and has been a stabilizing force on a unit that once again has had it share of key personnel losses.

He will be called on more than ever today, as Rodney Harrison will miss the game with a knee injury, and Hawkins and James Sanders will have to help tackle (no pun intended) the problems presented by the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.

Before coming to New England, Hawkins felt as if he was becoming the one thing he didn't want to be: a drifter. After six years as a cornerback in Cincinnati, where he missed just five games, he was released after the 2004 season. He spent '04 with Carolina but was let go again after that season despite playing in 14 games as a nickelback.

A partially torn hamstring doomed his chances in Washington, which signed him before training camp last year and released him at its close.

Not yet 29 and not yet ready to stop playing football -- especially when he heard whispers that maybe his body was trying to tell him it was time to get out -- Hawkins headed to Arizona to rehab the hamstring, which did not require surgery.

Back in his hometown of Johnstown, Pa., Hawkins' high school coach, Frank Krevetski, heard the reports of the Patriots' injuries and saw an opportunity for his former star.

"Each week he was out there rehabbing, New England was losing someone," Krevetski said. "I was thinking, write a letter, make a call, do something."

The Pats had in fact contacted Hawkins' agent in September, but in his own words, Hawkins was "nowhere near ready" to even have a workout. By November, when the call came again, he was ready. Hawkins tried out for the Pats with three or four other players on a Friday; the team traveled to Miami that weekend, and on Monday, Hawkins was signed.

"To me, I was just coming in to work out, didn't know if they were going to pull the trigger, whether I was going to be the one they picked out of the bunch," Hawkins said. "You never know what a team is looking for."

His first few days with the team were packed with learning and acclimating himself to the new system, soaking everything in.

"It was intimidating at first, to see guys like Tedy (Bruschi) and Tom (Brady) and coach Belichick, the amount of success they've had here, and wondering when, where and if you can fit in," he said, "But it still comes down to playing football."

"When they picked him up, I didn't think he'd have an opportunity to compete for a starting position," Krevetski said. "It had to be hard for him, too, because it's almost like you're going down to a 7-Eleven (convenience store) and picking someone up."

But Hawkins played at corner in his first week in Foxboro, but then was converted to safety -- where he will remain for the rest of his NFL days.

"I definitely prefer it. I'll never play corner again -- ever," he said. "That's where my heart lies now. I'm a safety."

According to Bill Belichick, who has praised Hawkins on several occasions this season for his professionalism and preparedness, it was current defensive coordinator Dean Pees who suggested trying Hawkins at safety.

"As it turned out, it was a great move, for him and for us," Belichick said. "There were a couple of times where he had to go back outside as a corner, kind of in an emergency situation, but I think that he's had a good season this year inside.

"He's done a great job for us and he's made the transition (from corner to safety). I've had a few guys that have done it, but I think he's done it as well as anybody has."

Hawkins says his background as a tailback -- he rushed for 1,487 yards and 26 touchdowns as a senior at Bishop McCort -- helped with the move to safety. He's used to being hit, so when he needs to make a tackle, there's no fear of the contact.

Something about New England has brought out the best in Hawkins. Krevetski, who will be in the stands at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium today at the player's guest, said he's never seen Hawkins play better.

"I think personally this is the best football I've seen him play and he just seems more confident," said Krevetski, who owns the same gray hoodie Belichick prefers. "It seems like he has command of everything, but I can see he's making a lot of calls, they're giving him responsibility. It seems like everybody on that defensive team or offensive team seems to be in a position where they can succeed.

"I think it was the greatest move."

smanza@projo.com / (401) 277-7340