Clemson University #6
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 6'1/214 lbs.
Age: 20
Drafted By: Houston Texans
Background:
NFL Prospect DeAndre Hopkins, served as the #1 receiver at Clemson University and decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. Out of every prospect this year, Hopkins truly has the saddest backstory. It is unbelievable how much he has experienced in just a short 20 years. Throughout his life, he has been forced to overcome and mature through multiple tragedies. To start things off, Hopkins barely knew his father, Harris Steve Hopkins, before he was killed in a car crash in 1992, when DeAndre was merely 5 months old. According to DeAndre's mother, Sabrina Greenlee, the two were driving home on a rainy day when the car hydroplaned, crashed into an obstacle, and flipped many times before hitting the guardrail. Greenlee survived and only suffered a concussion, but Steve was not so lucky. He died eight days later at the young age of 25 and escaped federal charges that would give him 100 years in prison for cocaine distribution. Then, 5 years later, police received a distress call from his uncle's home in Georgia. Terry Smith, who set school records for Clemson and signed undrafted to the Indianapolis Colts, was reportedly attacking his wife and 2-year-old son with a knife. When he wouldn't listen to the police's calls, they open fired, fatally killing him. Not to mention one of his cousins died from a heart attack during a basketball game when he was 24.
These incidents were just the beginning. In 1999, his cousin who also played at Clemson as runningback, tried to take his own life with a .380 caliber pistol. Instead of killing him, the bullet destroyed his right eye and damaged his left. Little did he know before attempting suicide, he was, and still is, Hopkins' biggest role model. Today, he helps DeAndre work out and condition during this offseason. When he was only 10, his mother found her then-boyfriend cheating with another woman. Still, the suffering and sadness continues for DeAndre. To her surprise, the other woman splashed a bucket of 400˚ F bleach all over he body, searing through clothes and skin. They took her to the nearest gas station and left her to die. Thankfully, an ambulance was called. She spent three weeks in a coma while the doctors fixed her burned skin. Today, she is blind in her right eye and half blind in the other. To conclude it all, Hopkins suffered a blow to himself. Late to his teams' meeting before they travelled to the 2012 Orange Bowl, he crashed into a tree, but only retained a minor concussion. He was still able to play in the big game. Hopkins' story is extremely sad yet remarkable. Not many get to say they have been through what he has, and he still keeps his head up. He has been one of the greatest players in Clemson history despite all the tragedy surrounding him. Despite the death and injury suffered everywhere around him, he keeps a positive outlook on life and still performs at a high level on the field. Hopkins is definitely ready for anything the NFL may throw at him after everything he's been through. His story should prove to everybody that there are no excuses whatsoever.
Strengths:
Deandre Hopkins is perfect in running his routes. Now, route running might not seem like an important trait in the NFL, but it can actually make or break a wide receiver. Many throws made are "timing throws" in which the quarterback releases the ball just as the receiver makes a cut and before the receiver is even looking for the ball. The receiver then cuts and finds the ball immediately. Route running is extremely important for this because making the cut toe early allows defenders to react and look for the ball. Cutting too late means the ball flies right past them for an incomplete pass. These timing throws are short, quick and mainly remain under 15 yards. At Clemson, those short passes were where Hopkins made his name famous. His route running and crisp cuts made up for his lack of speed (4.57 40 yard dash) and size. His ability to juke and change direction on a dime would create separation between him and the defender, giving him time to catch the ball and run. This same ability to accelerate and decelerate so quickly also made him deceivingly faster. Expecting him to cut for a short pass, defenders often cheat up. When this happens, Hopkins is able to blow past the defender and sprint for the deep pass. This is what makes him such a great receiver and rates him as one of the top in this draft class.
Weaknesses:
Hopkins is not the fastest, biggest, and most athletic wide receiver in this draft. 6'1 seems very tall compared to the height of most non-football players, but for NFL hopefuls, 6'1 is average. His 4.57 40-yard dash is definitely not impressive and slower compared to most first round draft picks. This is a weakness because the game only gets faster transitioning from college to the NFL. His lack of speed makes it hard to run deep routes for those splash plays that everyone loves in this game. So, the short route and quick passes will continue to be where he makes a living. The reason speed is so special is that it cannot be taught. So, Hopkins will have to perfect his great route running in order to be successful in this league. Luckily, he will be learning from one the NFL's best receiver, Andre Johnson. With a couple years experience, he still will have a chance to be an elite route running receiver. Another weakness of Hopkins' is his lack of physicality. He is easily pushed around by the more physical defenders and can be shoved out of his routes. Many times against LSU in the 2012 Orange Bowl, he was forced out of bounds during a pass play. The rule for this means he cannot be the first receiver the touch the ball even if he reenters the field of play and completely reestablishes himself. Being more physical in situations like these could result in staying in bounds and possibly making a big play. In the NFL, defenders just get more physical. So, Hopkins needs to bulk up or get stronger as he becomes an NFL receiver.
Overview:
DeAndre Hopkins has experienced a lot during his lifetime. Through tragedy and grief, he has learned to be tough and always stay positive. These experiences also give him adversity ten times harder to overcome than whatever the NFL may throw at him. At Clemson, he was a great receiver who could make plays when the team needed it most. Speed and size may be a problem for him in professional ball, but great route running and sharp cuts can make up for it. Also, learning from an elite receiver like Johnson will give him a huge advantage over most rookies. While the NFL may be a great challenge for Hopkins, there is no doubt that he will work his hardest to still be successful.
Games Viewed:
No comments:
Post a Comment