After Patriots stint, DeAndre Hopkins joins collegiate teaching employees
New England Patriots
Hopkins had lately dipped his toe into teaching throughout Patriots coaching camp.
DeAndre Hopkins accepted a soccer teaching place after gaining some expertise throughout New England Patriots coaching camp this previous week.
Hopkins joined Georgia Tech’s employees as an assistant huge receivers coach, this system introduced on social media on Friday.
“DeAndre is likely one of the best receivers of all-time, however his worth to our program goes far past that,” head coach David Key stated. “He has an distinctive data of what we’re doing on offense because of his lengthy relationship with (offensive coordinator) George Godsey and robust familiarity with the ACC, however most significantly, he’s a pacesetter of males that I’m very excited for our gamers to be round, on and off the sphere.”
Hopkins, 34, attended a number of Patriots coaching camp practices as he mulled whether or not to proceed his taking part in profession or go down a training path.
As of Thursday, Hopkins’s time in Foxborough had come to an finish.
“Hop’s not right here, nevertheless it was an ideal expertise for all of us,” Mike Vrabel stated. “I believe that’s what we might attempt to do when you have got a few of these distinctive conditions the place a participant, former participant or no matter it might be needs to return in, assist and study, they usually love soccer. So, I believe it was good for everyone.”
The five-time Professional Bowl huge receiver, who performed underneath Vrabel on the Tennessee Titans in 2023, acquired loads of reward from New England gamers, together with Drake Maye, who had been awe-struck by Hopkins’s presence.
“Simply having him be out right here, share some info and simply be a younger grownup and an ideal participant on this league, a legendary participant to play at a excessive stage and share some info’s superior,” Maye stated of Hopkins on the primary day of camp.
Fellow WR Romeo Doubs had good issues to say about Hopkins, too.
“That is my first time seeing D-Hop in particular person,” Doubs stated. “I do know he’s been an incredible receiver on this league, so simply to have his aura, his vitality round is a large assist.”
Hopkins joins one other Patriots connection at Georgia Tech. Defensive backs coach Vinnie Sunseri competed in Patriots coaching camp in 2016 and was briefly a part of the observe squad. Sunseri went on to affix New England in a help employees function underneath Invoice Belichick in 2020 earlier than being promoted to working backs coach, a task he held from 2021-23.
Hopkins and Sunseri gained’t be touring to New England throughout Georgia Tech’s common season, however this system will host Boston Faculty on Oct. 24.
Hopkins has not formally retired from taking part in within the NFL, however his hiring at the least places his cleats on the again burner.
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