Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins capped a spectacular 2015 season with a star turn in the Pro Bowl, hauling in a 7-yard touchdown following a 61-yard bomb.
NFL Media analyst and Hall of Fame wideout Michael Irvin, Hopkins' coach on Team Irvin, was blown away by the former Clemson standout's performance in practice all week.
"We don't know what the ceiling is," Irvin said, via the Texan's official website. "You see the skill set, where he can catch footballs from anyplace in the world. There is no telling what the ceiling can be. He'll be rewriting a lot of records in the NFL."
Hopkins is the first player ever to produce 100-yard receiving games with four different starting quarterbacks in the same season. Three of those four quarterbacks (Brandon Weeden, Ryan Mallett and T.J. Yates) were either cut by their original team or out of football at some point during the 2015 season.
"I would not be able to do it," Irvin conceded. "Whenever you brought in another quarterback, I played with a lot less confidence. What he does is just flat out incredible."
Hopkins has emerged as the NFL's premier boundary receiver with a contortionist act on the sidelines and in the end zone, aided by huge, strong hands and physicality. It's his relentless effort and route running, however, that gained Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman's respect.
"He's a dog," Sherman said. "He goes after it every play. He brings it every play. Every down. He's a very unique talent. He's explosive in and out of his breaks. He puts his own flavor on his routes. It's a challenge."
The Texans will enter the 2016 season with two of the NFL's top 20 players in Hopkins and perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidateJ.J. Watt. If they find a way to upgrade at quarterback, perhaps they can make a deeper run in the playoffs.
