Big defensive end gaining attention

Austin (Texas) Bowie defensive end Will Hopkins is certainly an imposing player. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound junior sticks out on the football field to opposing players and, as it turns out, college coaches as well.

The big defender did not log meaningful minutes until this past season and, once he did, it did not take long for attention to come his way.

"I'm getting letters and talking to University of Houston, SMU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Kansas State and Tulsa," Hopkins said. "I started getting attention sort of at the beginning of football season. I had been a reserve on varsity my sophomore year. After the first game this year everything started coming in."

With his frame, Hopkins could certainly end up playing a number of positions at the next level but most see him likely staying on defense.

"Everybody is looking at me on defense, I believe, except for Texas Tech," he said. "I went to one of their games during the season and they had me listed as a receiver so I think they are recruiting me as a tight end."

In addition to Lubbock, Hopkins has also made visit to two other in-state campuses and plans to hit a pair of Big 12 programs soon.

"I went to SMU for a game during the season and I went to University of Houston for their junior day a couple weeks ago," he said. "I've got the SMU junior day coming up in a couple weeks. My spring break is not this coming week but next week and I'm visiting Kansas and Kansas State then.

"I liked them all a lot. They're all different. Texas Tech is a little ways out there but it's a really nice campus. SMU and Houston are both kind of right in the city but they're both really nice campuses."

One school currently stands out at the moment, though.

"The one that sticks out the most right now would probably be SMU," Hopkins said. "I have a real personal relationship with the recruiting coach, coach Bert Hill. He's the recruiting coach for this area but he's also the defensive line coach. He's been very nice. The first letter he sent to me, it wasn't a computerized letter. It was a handwritten note during the season."

Hopkins received his first verbal offer last Thursday but is not quite ready to share it just yet. This past season he tallied 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in earning first-team all-district honors.