DeAndre Hopkins: From Clemson Star to NFL Veteran

DeAndre Rashaun Hopkins, nicknamed "DHop" and "Nuk," is an American professional football wide receiver currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Born on June 6, 1992, Hopkins has carved out an impressive career marked by outstanding hands, ball skills, and a knack for making crucial plays. Before his NFL career, which has included stints with the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Kansas City Chiefs, Hopkins honed his skills as a Clemson Tiger.

Early Life and Nickname

As an infant, Hopkins was given the nickname "Nuk" by his mother because he frequently chewed through NUK pacifiers. This playful moniker has stuck with him throughout his career, adding a unique touch to his already distinctive persona.

High School Career

Hopkins attended D. W. Daniel High School, where he excelled in both football and basketball. In football, he showcased his versatility by playing multiple positions and amassing impressive statistics. He recorded 28 career interceptions for 555 yards and five touchdowns on defense. On offense, he had 57 receptions for 1,266 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a senior, he added 11 punt returns for 289 yards and three touchdowns, along with two kickoff returns for 119 yards and one touchdown. His outstanding performance led D.W. Daniel High School to a 37-4 record during his career.

In basketball, Hopkins was a four-year starter, accumulating over 1,300 points, 400 rebounds, 600 assists, and 200 steals. He averaged 20.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 4.0 steals per game as a sophomore, and 18.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game as a junior. He led D.W. Daniel High to a state title in basketball as a senior, the school's first title since 1967, earning first-team all-state honors for three years.

College Career at Clemson University

Hopkins's career at Clemson University was nothing short of spectacular. From 2010 to 2012, he consistently improved his performance, leaving a lasting mark on the program. He played in 39 games (32 starts), recording 206 receptions for 3,020 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also contributed 12 punt returns for 82 yards and two kickoff returns for 32 yards.

Read also: Ultimate Guide to Hopkins Gear

2010: Freshman Impact

As a freshman in 2010, Hopkins quickly established himself as a key player for the Tigers. He became Clemson's leading receiver with 52 catches for 637 yards and four touchdowns, becoming the first freshman to lead the team in receptions since 2001. Hopkins earned Third-team freshman All-American honors by Phil Steele, honorable mention freshman All-American honors by CollegeFootballNews.com, and first-team freshman All-ACC honors as a wide receiver and punt returner by Rivals.com. Hopkins also earned Clemson’s Rookie-of-the-Year Award (offense).

He tied for ninth in the ACC in receptions per game (4.3), being the only freshman in the top 10. Among all freshmen in school history, his 52 catches were second-most and his 637 receiving yards were second-most. Hopkins had three 100-yard receiving games in the last four contests.

He also briefly joined the Clemson basketball team after the football season, becoming a member of Clemson’s NCAA Tournament team.

2011: Sophomore Success

In his sophomore year, Hopkins continued to shine, recording 72 receptions for 978 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 10 punt returns for 49 yards. He stood sixth in the ACC in receptions per game (5.1) and receiving yards per game (69.9). Hopkins had a game-high nine receptions for a game-high 157 yards and a touchdown along with six yards on two punt returns against North Carolina on Oct. 22 earning team co-offensive player-of-the-game honors. He also had a team-high 10 receptions for a team-high 107 yards and a touchdown against #22 West Virginia in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 where the 10 catches set a school record for a bowl game.

2012: Record-Breaking Junior Season

Hopkins's junior season in 2012 was truly exceptional. He had one of the best receiving seasons in ACC history, with a conference-best 1,405 yards on 82 catches and a school-record 18 touchdowns. This performance earned him First-team All-Conference honors. He also earned second-team All-American honors by Athlon, CBSSports.com, Lindy’s, Phil Steele, and Scout.com; third-team All-American honors by AP; and honorable mention All-American honors by SI.com and Sporting News.

Read also: Internship Opportunities at CLE

Hopkins, along with junior quarterback Tajh Boyd and wide receiver Sammy Watkins, formed one of the most prolific passing offenses in college football, breaking numerous individual and career school records. He had at least one receiving touchdown in each of the last 10 games, the longest streak in ACC and school history.

He also had a game-high 13 receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown against #25 Auburn at Atlanta, GA on Sept. 1 where the 13 receptions set a school record. Hopkins had six receptions for a game-high 105 yards and tied the school record with three touchdown catches (all less than nine minutes apart in the second quarter) against Ball State on Sept. 8. He also had a game-high 11 receptions for a game-high 197 yards and a touchdown at Boston College on Sept. 29 earning team offensive player-of-the-game honors. In the Chick-fil-A Bowl against #7 Louisiana State on Dec. 31, Hopkins had a game-high 13 receptions for a game-high 191 yards and two touchdowns.

College Statistics Overview

Hopkins's college statistics demonstrate his consistent growth and impact on the Clemson Tigers:

Games: 39
Receptions: 206
Receiving Yards: 3,020
Receiving Touchdowns: 27

He finished his college career first in school history in receiving yards, first in receiving touchdowns, first in 100-yard receiving games (12), and second in receptions.

NFL Draft and Early Career

Coming out of Clemson, Hopkins was considered a top prospect and received an invitation to the NFL Combine. He completed nearly all of the combine drills, but was unable to finish the three-cone drill after suffering an apparent calf injury.

The Houston Texans selected Hopkins in the first round with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. He was the second wide receiver selected, behind Tavon Austin. On July 24, 2013, Hopkins signed a four-year, $7.62 million contract with the team.

2013 Season: Rookie Year

Hopkins made his NFL debut in the season opener against the San Diego Chargers, making five receptions for 55 yards in the 31-28 victory. On September 15, Hopkins caught a season-high seven passes for 117 receiving yards and scored his first career touchdown reception on a three-yard pass from quarterback Matt Schaub in the Texans' 30-24 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. Hopkins was named the NFL Rookie of the Month for September. Hopkins finished the 2013 season with 52 receptions for 802 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

2015 Season: Breakout Year

Hopkins started in the Texans' season-opener against the Chiefs and caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns as the Texans lost 27-20. During Week 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars he had 10 receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns to earn his first career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Hopkins finished the 2015 season with then-career highs in receptions (111), receiving yards (1,521), and touchdowns (11), despite playing with four different quarterbacks.

2017 Season

During the season-opening 29-7 loss to the Jaguars, Hopkins caught the first NFL touchdown pass of quarterback and fellow Clemson Tiger Deshaun Watson's career. During Week 8 against the Seattle Seahawks, Hopkins posted an impressive performance with eight receptions for 224 receiving yards, which was highlighted by a 72-yard touchdown. Hopkins finished the 2017 season with 96 receptions for 1,378 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns.

Arizona Cardinals

On September 13, 2020, Hopkins made his debut as a Cardinal against the San Francisco 49ers, recording a career-high 14 receptions for 151 yards in the 24-20 win. In Week 2 against the Washington Football Team, Hopkins caught eight passes for 68 yards and his first receiving touchdown as a Cardinal during the 30-15 win. In Week 10 against the Bills, Hopkins recorded seven receptions for 127 yards and the game winning touchdown on a 43-yard Hail Mary pass thrown by Kyler Murray with one second left in the 32-30 win which would later be referred to as Hail Murray.

On November 19, Hopkins became the youngest player to reach 700 catches, a record that was held by his teammate, Larry Fitzgerald. In Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hopkins recorded nine catches for 169 yards and a touchdown during the 33-26 win. In Week 17, against the Los Angeles Rams, Hopkins went over 10,000 receiving yards for his career.

Hopkins appeared in nine games in the 2022 season.

Tennessee Titans

Hopkins became a free agent in 2023 and signed a two-year deal with the Titans. Unfortunately, the Titans' offense and quarterback play muted Hopkins' production. While he continued to compile yards at an efficient 2.16 Yards Per Route Run, he caught just 75 of 136 targets on a 67.6-percent Catchable Target Rate.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens added veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason.

Player Profile

DeAndre Hopkins is renowned for his exceptional hands, route-running skills, and ability to make contested catches. While not known for blazing speed (running a 4.54-second 40-time), Hopkins excels at using his 80-inch wingspan and 10-inch hands to outmaneuver defenders and secure jump balls. He is the definition of a target hog.

Personal Life and Community Involvement

Hopkins is a Christian and grew up attending church with his mother. He was baptized one day after practice at Clemson in 2012. Hopkins has said, "My faith is a big, big thing for me. No matter how hard life can get, you can never give up."

Hopkins is also actively involved in giving back to the community. He holds a SMOOOTH Back-to-school giveaway that supplies book bags and school supplies for over 2,500 children. SMOOOTH is an acronym that stands for "Speaking Mentally Outwardly Opening Opportunities Towards Healing." In 2021, Hopkins went into the cereal business with "DeAndre's Hop Box." In March 2020, Hopkins partnered with Beyond Meat. In 2020, Hopkins displayed the name of Denmark Vesey on his helmet as a tribute to the alleged mastermind of a thwarted 1822 South Carolina slave revolt.

His mother, Sabrina Greenlee, is a survivor of a brutal attack. In July 2002, Greenlee had a boiling concoction of lye and bleach thrown at her face by a woman her boyfriend had an affair with. The attack resulted in the skin rapidly peeling off her neck, face, and back and left her blind.

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