Just another comment on Hopkins. The biggest weakness when he started his first game at Virginia Tech was the defensive line. The unit, lead by Stephen Friday and Chris Drager was one of the weakest groups, if not the weakest group Foster rolled out in a long time. Hopkins was a spot starter on that team, and JR Collins and James Gayle got significant work as backups.
Against GT in both 2010 and 2011, Foster sold out with both tackles, the mike linebacker, and the defensive ends against the dive, and the Yellow Jackets managed to get big plays on the inside. JR Collins even moved inside and took an absolute beating in 2011 trying to hold up the interior line and keep them off Jack Tyler.
Fast forward to 2013. The entire night, Tyler played well off the football. That made it very challenging for the play side tackle to down block him. It was also possible because Hopkins and Maddy were taking away the dive by themselves. Tyler was not nearly as focused on crashing into the pile to stop the veer. Instead, he was freed up to move laterally and scrape to the quarterback. In years past, GT quarterbacks were essentially one on one with the safeties moving up in support (as the option defender most often covered pitch). Now, Lee had to contend with a safety and Jack Tyler coming across from the inside. THAT IS ONLY POSSIBLE IF THE DEFENSIVE TACKLES ARE COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN THE INSIDE. Hopkins was not only shooting gaps to make plays, but when the defensive call was made for him to do so, he absorbed double team blocks to free up other players to make plays. His motor, effort, and intelligence make him a special player, and it is clear that his effort has influenced Luther Maddy to also play with a terrific motor and smarts.
I hope some day Derrick Hopkins gets the credit from the Hokie fan base that he deserves. He is a four year contributor. He has made big play after big play. And, when you see him up close and in person, I really don't think he is more than maybe 5'10, 290. My hat is off to him, and hopefully this season he is recognized as one of the Hokie greats.
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Now if only he had scored that touchdown against Marshall...
Truly a beast. Can anyone explain where 'Skip' comes from though for me? I missed that train...
Antoine's nickname was Hop, Derek's is Skip, and the third brother is Jump (or so I've read on message boards).
A. Hopkins was nicknamed "Hop," D. Hopkins is "Skip," and the youngest Hopkins is "Jump." It's been a nickname since high school or even earlier I believe.
Edit: 32 seconds too slow. turkey leg for you!
Three Hopkins brothers. Eldest has the nickname, "Hop." The other two got,"Skip" and "Jump."
Turkey Legs all around as even I was just 18 seconds too slow.
The way he has been playing (as the same with others on that DLINE), the NFL is in his future. Just an outstanding DT and probably the best we've had in a very long time.
We should stick him at RB if we get garbage time in any game this year.
Then we could all yell "FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN!"
What about as a fullback on goal-line plays? It would be an alternative to LT3 QB sneaks....kind of what William "the Refrigerator" Perry did for da Bears.
#MANBEARPIG deserves the ultimate in Hokie respect. It makes me giddy to think that there is yet another #MANBEARPIG in HS right now. Join the family Jump!
I wish my hs provided the Hokies with some of their greats, but it always seems to be other Henrico schools.
I so wanted him to score that TD.
For a D lineman, there is probably few greater joys than score a long TD.
Unfortunately, I don't see an NFL future for him at DT because he's undersized but boy does he make plays. I think he has the mental capability and the strength to play on Sundays, but let's see what NFL GMs think.
EDIT: #MANBEARPIG
My freshman year (also his) I always used to see him in DX at around 8:00pm at night and just getting incredible amounts of food. But I will say this, there is no way that guy is even over 5'10". I laughed so hard when Hokiesports listed him at 6'0". Not a chance in hell.
So much of what we do defensively depends on stopping the run, so, it's quite possible Hopkins is our defensive MVP at the current time.
Maybe he translates to 3-4 DE in the pros
I think DT is one of the truly under appreciated positions on the football field. The only time these guys really get any notoriety is when they are one gap pass rushers. You just don't see DT's getting love in 4-3 schemes. The good ones, it always seems, get moved to the end in a 3-4 scheme. I realize Suh is probably coming to everybody's mind as a true 4-3 DT, but if that dude didn't play dirty no one would say his name. Fairley is killing it this year and you hardly ever hear his name. I love the work D-Hop puts in hope he manages to find a home at the next level. He will make some d-coordiator very happy.