Today I'm going to be looking at another potential receiver prospect for the Miami Dolphins: DeAndre Hopkins.
Hopkins (nicknamed "Nuk") is a receiver out of the high-powered Clemson offense. He is 6'1" and 214 pounds. He ran a 4.57 40-yard dash and was measured at a 36 inch vertical at the combine last weekend.
Hopkins has the size and skillset to be a number one receiver as a pro. He is a good route runner and does an excellent job of faking defenders out to get open. He has good hands and rarely drops the ball. He is also very good with the ball in his hands. As soon as he has the ball he looks upfield to make a play.
He doesn't have blazing speed, but he definitely isn't slow. He uses what speed he does have to his advantage and is a big time playmaker. I was impressed with his body control. He looked like he was out of bounds on a few receptions that I saw, but when the replay was showed he was actually in bounds.
Hopkins did play against lesser competition at times in the ACC, but his physical abilities can't be ignored. I don't know if he will ever be an elite wide receiver, but he can still be a great number one guy. He will sometimes try to do too much and end up losing yardage. He'll learn pretty soon, though, that he isn't playing against college defenders anymore.
I like Hopkins a lot. He seems like an excellent second round pick for the Dolphins and he would do very well in Miami's offense.
Here is some tape on Hopkins. This will give you a good idea of what he was able to do last year.
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