Brycen Hopkins Overview
Position: Tight end
Height: 6’4
Weight: 245 lbs
School: Purdue Boilermakers
NFL Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.66 (tied for second with tight ends)
Bench press: 21 (tied for fourth with tight ends)
Vertical Jump: 33.5”
Broad Jump: 116” (eights with tight ends)
Three-cone drill: 7.25 (eighth with tight ends)
20-yard shuttle: 4.28 (fourth with tight ends)
Brycen Hopkins 2020 NFL Draft Profile
Through the course of four seasons, the Purdue Boilermakers experienced up and down seasons. Longtime tight end Brycen Hopkins has been there for the good and bad seasons. After a stellar senior season, Hopkins will now look to take his impact and talents to the NFL. Hopkins came in a three-star recruit in the recruiting class of 2015 as the 73rd ranked tight end. After redshirting in 2015, Hopkins played in six games in 2016 by catching 10 receptions for 183 yards for an average of 18.3 yards per receptions and four touchdowns. In his sophomore season, Hopkins caught 25 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Hopkins continued increasing his production on the field for the Boilermakers in his junior year. In 2018, Hopkins caught 34 receptions for 583 yards and two touchdowns. He was named third-team All-Big Ten in 2018.
It was in his redshirt senior season where Hopkins became a future NFL prospect. This past season, Hopkins played in 11 games for the Boilermakers where he caught 61 receptions for 830 yards and seven touchdowns. Hopkins accounted for three games where he accounted for at least 100 yards with eight or more catches. In the loss against the Wisconsin Badgers, Hopkins caught eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Hopkins was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player in 2019. He was also named second-team All-American selection by CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today. Hopkins is ranked as the second-rated tight end prospect in a weak tight end draft class.
Strengths
- A solid athlete with great length and big frame;
- Great route runner with good change of direction;
- Able to find the ball quickly when getting to the top of the route;
- Able to get to move freely in-and-out of the route;
- Plays with mental toughness;
- Delivers hard hits for an extra push in runs;
- Great separation skills against defensive backs and linebackers;
- High football IQ that can quickly expose weaknesses against defenses;
- Quick burst off the ball and able to shake coverage players from the press.
Weaknesses
- Experiences some significant drops;
- Has stiff hands which makes it difficult to catch and secure catches;
- Poor pad level at the point of contact;
- Can block but experiences inconsistencies through balance and control;
- Slightly undersized;
- Lacks the full lower strength to create push;
- Fails to consistently extend arms when blocking;
- Inefficient as an in-line blocker;
- Lacks great vertical speed.
Comparison: Jared Cook
Teams With Need at Position: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins
Projection: Late second round to third round
Bottom Line on Brycen Hopkins
This year’s tight end class for the 2020 NFL Draft class is one of the weakest position classes. Hopkins’ versatility as a tight end makes him great for today’s style of offense in the NFL. He can be able to line up at multiple positions as a tight end and as an inside receiver. Hopkins could be the second tight end selected in the 2020 NFL Draft to a team that can a quick target in a quick offense. Wherever he gets drafted, he could be an instant starter for his new NFL team due to position need.
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