Brad Hopkins

Infobox NFLretired


|width=
caption=
position=Offensive Tackle
number=72
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|9|5
Columbia, South Carolina
deathdate=
debutyear=1993
finalyear=2005
draftyear=1993
draftround=1
draftpick=13
college=Illinois
teams=
* Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans (1993-2005)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=194
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=188
stat3label=Fumble recoveries
stat3value=7
nfl=HOP146120
highlights=
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2003)
* 1x All-Pro selection (2000)

Bradley D. Hopkins (born September 5, 1970) is a former American football player. He played left tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League, all of them with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans organization.

High School

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

Brad 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 a 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 twelve 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 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 twelve games at left tackle and was named All-American as well as All-Big Ten. The Illini played in the Holiday Bowl, finishing with a 6-5-1 season.

Hopkins graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in Speech Communications.

Professional

Hopkins was selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. In his rookie season, Hopkins started eleven games at left tackle and was first-Team All-Rookie from several key organizations. [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=20032]

Hopkins started all sixteen games for the Oilers for the 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999 seasons, blocking for fellow Big-Ten alumn Eddie George. In 1999, the Titans made it to Super Bowl XXXIV losing to the Kurt Warner led St. Louis Rams.

In 2000, Hopkins earned a trip to the Pro Bowl starting in all but one game for the Tennessee Titans. Hopkins was part of an offensive line that allowed the third lowest number of sacks in the NFL, and George recorded over 1500 yards gained rushing. That season, the Titans finished with a 13-3 record, winning the AFC Central Division, but lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the playoffs.

Hopkins continued starting for the Titans, and earned another trip to the pro-bowl in 2003, a season that he started all sixteen games for the fifth time in his career. The Titans were propelled by a high-powered offense with Steve McNair and Eddie George, which scored 30 points in six consecutive games - a franchise record.

He announced his retirement from football on June 14, 2006. Along with Steve McNair, he was the last player left from the Houston Oilers. He was also the last player left who was involved with the Herschel Walker trade.

He currently works as a sports reporter for WSMV in Nashville, TN [http://www.wsmv.com/newsteam/index.html] .

External links

* http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=20032
* http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HopkBr00.htm