ARIZONA CARDINALS

DeAndre Hopkins had 28 INTs, 5 return TDs on defense in high school

Oct 28, 2020, 6:45 AM

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) pulls in a touchdown pass during the first hal...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) pulls in a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Football Team, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

It’s fun to look at the high school stats for star athletes.

Check out Tennesee Titans running back Derrick Henry’s.

See? Pretty fun!

As it turns out, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has his own crazy numbers, but on the other side of the field.

He ran through the beginning of his football journey on teammate Patrick Peterson’s podcast All Things Covered.

Hopkins had a state record 28 interceptions as a defensive back in South Carolina at D.W. Daniel High School, with five return touchdowns as well.

A two-sport athlete who was primarily focused on basketball, Hopkins came onto the school’s football team and didn’t know much.

“Kinda helped me become that ball-knacking kind of guy,” he said. “I was a basketball player and they were telling me, ‘7-on-7 is good for you.’

“I always thought I wanted to play quarterback and they were like, ‘You’re long, you can catch real good, you got big hands, so let’s see what you do in this 7-on-7.’ Before I stepped on the field and played, I was catching interceptions in 7-on-7 and I was like, ‘This is a good position right here.’

“My first high school game against the number one team in the state, I caught three interceptions.”

The funny part of the story is that Hopkins didn’t understand how rare it was getting three in a game, so he was confused when he was asked to appear on local television.

“After the game the following week, the local news like, ‘We want to interview you,'” he said. “I’m like, ‘Y’all want to interview me? For what?'”

Picking off passes was so easy for Hopkins that he must have thought, “What? This? That’s a serious accomplishment?”

Hopkins said he didn’t even know until college that 28 interceptions was a lot for a high school career, and that’s a record he holds in a state that’s produced All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Pro Bowl cornerback Jonathan Joseph and other NFL defensive backs.

Hopkins went to Clemson to play both basketball and football, and because the Tigers were low at receiver and Hopkins had good hands, the coaching staff decided to move him to wideout full time after initially slotting him at defensive back.

Good decision!

Arizona Cardinals

Darren Hall...

Damon Allred

Arizona Cardinals waive defensive back Darren Hall after Baron Browning trade

The Arizona Cardinals waived cornerback Darren Hall on Monday after he had played in four of the last five games, according to the NFL's transactions list. 

3 hours ago

Former Denver Broncos OLB Baron Browning was dealt to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday....

Tyler Drake

How might new Cardinals OLB Baron Browning impact Arizona’s defense?

The Cardinals went out and added a pass rusher ahead of the NFL trade deadline in Baron Browning. But just how much does he move the needle?

3 hours ago

Baron Browning #5 of the Denver Broncos in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at C...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals trade for pass rusher Baron Browning, deal pick to Broncos

The Arizona Cardinals are trading for Denver Broncos pass rusher Baron Browning with the NFL trade deadline closing in, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

7 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Wolf loves what he saw from Cardinals’ run game vs. Bears

The Arizona Cardinals power run game was in effect on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Ron Wolfley is still juiced up with their performance on the ground.

7 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: The Arizona Cardinals’ run game balled out against the Chicago Bears

The Arizona Cardinals' physical nature was on full display on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, as they ran for 213 yards in their 29-9 victory, much to the delight of Wolf & Luke.

8 hours ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Bickley Blast: First-place Cardinals use power running game to overwhelm Bears

The Arizona Cardinals ran the ball to great effect on Sunday against the Chicago Bears and improved to 5-4 with their 29-9 win. Dan Bickley wants the team to not rest on its laurels. Instead, he wants them active at the NFL trade deadline to improve the roster.

9 hours ago

DeAndre Hopkins had 28 INTs, 5 return TDs on defense in high school