CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) -- Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins did his best to push himself into the NFL draft's first round, bettering his 40-yard dash time Thursday and putting on a solid pass-catching show in front of New York Jets coach Rex Ryan and personnel from 31 pro teams. Hopkins put up a 4.41-second time in his second 40-yard run at the Tigers recently opened indoor football facility. Hopkins' first-run time of 4.46 seconds was also faster than his NFL combine time of 4.57 seconds. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/wr-hopkins-works-nfl-teams-192909797--ncaaf.html
Should be noted that Clemson's PDF release of performances and 40 times had Hopkins at 4.55 in the 40 yard dash. I'm skeptical of this 4.41 nonsense because he didn't run even close to that in Indianapolis, even if you go by the unofficial times, and he doesn't run even close to that on the football field.
That 4.41 time is BS. All the Clemson times were "quick". Too quick. Like 36 yard quick. Jaron Brown- 4.29 M. Goodman 1st 4.62 2nd 4.52 Nuk Hopkins 1st 4.46 2nd 4.41 Daldon Freeman 4.83 (Chose to run once only) Corico Wright 2nd 4.50 Tig Willard 2nd 4.59 Xavier Brewer 4.52 compared to the official times:
Holy ****! Either gravity doesn't apply the same way on Clemson's campus, or those times are suspect.
If you've watched our punting the past 10 years you'd know gravity there works just fine... maybe too good. lol
Hopkins it seems to me is underrated by most. No one rates him the best WR in the draft, and he is as worthy of that ranking as the others.
I have heard stories before about players trying to get away with making it like 37 yards or something like that. I doubt this happened here but I think between track, wind-aiding, etc...these numbers are trash.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwB5J11rmdU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTJjRlGOCjk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13cTixvMEos
Can he run through drywall, jump out of a pool and do other stuff that simulates real football too? Also, can he balance a ping ping ball on his nose while signing a million dollar contract?
Interesting backside view of Rhodes v Hopkins at :30. Looks like Rhodes has responsibility for the flat and releases Hopkins, cover 2 Safety becomes responsible for Hopkins, blows it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTJjRlGOCjk Another nice shot at 1:08, Hopkins fighting off aggressive press coverage. Hopkins seems like the kind of player that does everything well except run blazing fast and because of that drops to the 2nd round. And he'll probably outperform WRs drafted ahead of him- sure handed, tough, quick, good size and it's not like he's slow. I look at him and I see a complete football player, not a project. Better teams like GB, Pittsburgh and NE will want this guy imo, I hope that we have him on the radar. Gotta love the stutter move at 3:02 against NC State, nice replay after. I think that's Amerson getting smoked on the play. Amerson's 4.44 combine timed speed sure didn't help him catch up to Hopkins after he got torched by the initial move, and Hopkins effortlessly catches a great ball from Taj Boyd (nice to see the pump fake, Peyton Manning's best friend) and glides into the endzone. He looks plenty fast there. Makes me wonder who is the better risk and who will have the better career, Deandre Hopkins or Cordarelle Patterson.
