Clemson wide receiver Deandre Hopkins
Prospect: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson University
Measurables: 6’2” 205 lbs
Strengths: DeAndre Hopkins benefited from stellar quarterback play with Taj Boyd at Clemson. They hooked up to make a pretty good tandem finishing 2012 with 82 catches for 1405 yards and 18 Tds. Hopkins has excellent size and decent speed to be a bona fide no.1 at the next level. He’s physical enough to post up defenders. Nice hands with a long wingspan which allows for a big catch radius. Uses his superb leaping ability to high point the ball as well as his foot quickness to break off the line. Tremendous field vision and awareness to locate boundaries. Has enough straightaway speed to get past any DB. Has room to fill out his frame. Very fluid and crisp route runner. Disguises his movements with precision foot placement. His raw determination will not allow him to fail as he strives to be the best football player on the field and that’s evident in the way he approaches each game.
Weaknesses: Sometimes loses the physical battle with defenders. Will allow himself to get pushed off the route with lazy route running. Needs to be more physical with his hands when pressed at the line. If he loses that battle, the route will turn sloppy. Has a knack for allowing the ball into his body rather than catching it with his hands which will often cause drops. His blocking will sometimes suffer from lapses in his concentration. Needs to flash big-play potential and ability to run the entire route tree at both the scouting combine and his pro day.
Projection: Hopkins projects to be a late first or early second round prospect.
Prospect Profile completed by:
Marc Lucoff is DraftInsider’s Head Scout of WR/DB’s
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