Brad Hopkins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
 Hopkins with the Tennessee Titans | |||||||||
| No. 72 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | September 5, 1970 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Moline (Moline, Illinois) | ||||||||
| College | Illinois (1989–1992) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1993: 1st round, 13th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Bradley D. Hopkins (born September 5, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all of them with the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Titans organization. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Hopkins was an outstanding two-sport athlete at Moline High School, lettering in football as well as basketball. In football, Hopkins played on both offense and defense, playing on the defensive line as well as at tight end. In basketball, Hopkins played power forward, and was in the same lineup as future Iowa shot-blocker and NBA first-round draft pick Acie Earl.
College career
Hopkins received a scholarship to play football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was recruited by John Mackovic. As a freshman, Hopkins was a reserve offensive lineman, blocking for future NFL overall first pick Jeff George. George guided the Illini to the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl against the Virginia Cavaliers after a 9–2 record, second only to the Michigan Wolverines in the Big Ten Conference.
His sophomore year, Hopkins became a starter, and started ten games at left tackle for quarterback Jason Verduzco. The Illini posted an 8–4 record, tied for first in the Big Ten and went to the Hall of Fame Bowl, losing to the Clemson Tigers. The following season, in 1991, Hopkins started all 12 games once again protecting Verduzco, and received All-Big Ten honors. The team posted a 6–6 record, good for fifth place in the Big Ten, and a trip to the 1991 John Hancock Bowl.
His senior year, Hopkins was selected team captain by first-year coach Lou Tepper, along with John Wright and Steven Mueller. He started all 12 games at left tackle and was named All-American as well as All-Big Ten. The Illini played in the 1992 Holiday Bowl, finishing with a 6–5–1 season.
Hopkins graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in Speech Communications.