Andy Hopkins

Last updated

Andy Hopkins
Andy Hopkins Houston Oilers 1971.jpg
Date of birth(1949-10-19)October 19, 1949
Place of birth Crockett, Texas, U.S.
Date of deathOctober 1, 2017(2017-10-01) (aged 67)
Place of death Sugar Land, Texas, U.S.
Career information
CFL status International
Position(s) RB
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight186 lb (84 kg)
US college Stephen F. Austin State
NFL draft 1971 / Round: 15 / Pick: 368
Drafted by Houston Oilers
Career history
As player
1971–1973 Houston Oilers
19731975 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
19761977 Montreal Alouettes
CFL East All-Star 1973, 1974, 1976
Honors1977 - Grey Cup Champion

Andrew P. Hopkins Sr. was an all-star Canadian Football League (CFL) running back. Andrew "Shay" Hopkins, a native of Crockett, Texas attended Ralph Bunche High School. He was a member of the High School Choir, Ralph Bunche Gazette, Year-book Staff and sports editor of the Ralph Bunche Year-book. Andy showed extraordinary athletic abilities in high school. He was a stand-out star in track, baseball, and football. Hopkins didn't make the football team: he was cut as a ninth-grader under the coaching of his father, Andrew J. Hopkins. Hopkins used this incident as a determining factor to try harder. He later became captain of his high school football team.

Contents

The making of a superstar

After graduating from high school, Hopkins signed a "Letter of Intent" to attend Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the Houston Oilers in 1971. He later finished his professional football career in the CFL in Canada; playing for both the Hamilton Ti-Cats and Montreal Alouettes Professional Football Teams.

After playing college football at Stephen F. Austin State University he joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1973, where he rushed for (a team record at the time) 1223 yards in his rookie season. [1] Joining the Montreal Alouettes in 1976, he again rushed for over one thousand yards (1075 and an all-star selection), and in 1977 he was part of their Grey Cup championship team. [2]

Personal life

Hopkins was married to his high school sweetheart, Ann Hopkins (Public Education Administrator); and they are the parents of four children: Dr. Alicia Hopkins; Andrew Hopkins II; Aaric Hopkins, B. Sc./Master Degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement; and Ashton Hopkins, Mechanical Engineer.

The Hopkins family lives in Missouri City, Texas, and attends Brentwood Baptist Church (Houston, Texas). Hopkins was CEO of his own company, Copier Systems. Inc.

NFL achievements

All-time East Texans in NFL draft: Hopkins, Andy RB NFL draft 1971 round 15 #368

CFL achievements

Andy Hopkins was a three-time Eastern All-Star and twice cracked the magical 1,000-yard mark in rushing in his five-year CFL career. Hopkins broke into the CFL with Hamilton in 1973 and led the East in rushing with 1223 yards to get his first East All-Star honor. In 1974, Hopkins fell just short of the 1,000-yard club as his average carry took a plunge from 5.5 down to 4.1 but his 943 yards and 42 receptions earned him his second Eastern All-Star award. Injuries limited Hopkins to just 463 yards in 8 games in 1975. Hopkins joined the Montreal Alouettes in 1976 and bounced back for his second 1,000 yards season with 1075 yards and a career high 43 pass receptions to capture his third Eastern All-Star award. In 1975, Hopkins appeared in only 5 games and had 218 yards rushing. Hopkins finished his career with 3922 yards rushing.

CFL all-time rushing list (Hamilton Tiger-Cats)

CFL most rushing yards – season (Andy Hopkins, RB);

CFL all-time rusher (1,000 yard rushers) 1976

CFL all-time All Stars (Montreal Alouettes) Andy Hopkins; 1976

CFL record single-season rushing (Andy Hopkins) 1973

CFL record career carries; 552 (Andy Hopkins); 1973

CFL record single-season carries; 232 (Andy Hopkins) 1973 &1974

Related Research Articles

DeAndra' Cobb is an American former professional football running back. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

John Edward Avery, Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick. Avery played in the NFL for the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. He played in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts. He was also in the XFL with the Chicago Enforcers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Calvillo</span> Canadian-American football player and instructor

Anthony Calvillo is an American coach and retired player of Canadian football. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was professional football's all-time passing yards leader from 2011 to 2020, and is first in all-time CFL passing yards. In his career, he passed for 79,816 yards and is one of ten professional quarterbacks to have completed over 400 touchdown passes. His passing-yards reign ended in 2020 when Brees surpassed his record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arland Bruce III</span> American gridiron football player (born 1977)

Arland Richard Bruce III is a former Canadian football wide receiver. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion, having won in 2004 with the Toronto Argonauts and in 2011 with the Lions. He has played 10 seasons in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions. During the 2011 season, he became the 14th CFL receiver to record over 10,000 yards receiving in a career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avon Cobourne</span> American gridiron football player and coach (born 1979)

Avon Cobourne is an American former professional gridiron football running back who was most recently a running back coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a running back for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 1999 to 2002 before entering the National Football League (NFL).

Terry Vaughn is a former Canadian Football League (CFL) receiver most recently with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 2005, Terry Vaughn's 1113 receiving yards combined with those of his teammates as the 2005 Montreal Alouettes became only the second team in CFL history to achieve four players all having over 1,000 yards receiving in the same season. On July 14, 2006, Vaughn became the all-time leader in receptions in the CFL, surpassing Darren Flutie's previous record of 973 receptions. Vaughn finished the season with 1,006 career receptions, a record which stood until Ben Cahoon broke it on October 11, 2010. Vaughn was the first player in CFL history to record 1,000 career receptions. Vaughn also holds the record for most 1,000+ yards receiving with 11, while also holding the record for most consecutive 1,000+ yards receiving, also with 11. He finished his career in fourth as the CFL's all-time receiving yards leader with 13,746 yards. He announced his retirement as a Calgary Stampeder near the beginning of the 2007 season.

Quinton George Porter is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback. He was on the practice squad for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He was originally signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Boston College. Porter has also been a player with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Fantuz</span> Canadian football player (born 1983)

Andrew Fantuz is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver. Fantuz spent the majority of his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played for the Riders for six seasons after he was drafted by them in the first round of the 2006 CFL Draft. He then played six seasons for the Tiger-Cats. Fantuz was also signed by the Chicago Bears in 2011. He played CIS football for the Western Ontario Mustangs.

David Green is an American former professional gridiron football running back who played for both the Montreal Alouettes and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.

Brian Fryer is a former football player who starred at wide receiver for the University of Alberta, and played professionally for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Jimmy Jones is a former all-star quarterback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jones was a graduate of the University of Southern California (USC). He moved to Canada in 1973, and played for the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Rough Riders, and helped lead the Alouettes to a Grey Cup win in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skip Walker</span> American gridiron football player (1954–2022)

Alvin Ray "Skip" Walker was an American professional football running back who played five seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes and Ottawa Rough Riders, including two seasons where he led the CFL in rushing yards in 1982 and 1983. He was named a CFL All Star in 1982 and 1983, and a CFL East All-Star in 1980, 1982 and 1983. He played college football at Texas A&M and was selected in the 11th round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He also spent time with the Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Green Bay Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dahrran Diedrick</span> Canadian gridiron football player (1979–2023)

Dahrran Diedrick was a Canadian professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005 and the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 2010. Diedrick played college football in the United States with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He began his pro career in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Redskins. He played for ten seasons in the CFL, primarily with the Alouettes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrell Sutton</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Tyrell DelShawn Sutton, is an American former professional gridiron football running back. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Northwestern. Sutton was also a member of the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Sacramento Mountain Lions, BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Montreal Alouettes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Messam</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1985)

Jerome Messam is a former professional Canadian football running back who played in nine seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for five teams. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the BC Lions. After being traded to the Edmonton Eskimos, he became the seventh Canadian running back since 1955 and the first since 2000 to rush for over 1,000 yards while also winning the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award. He won the award again in 2016 and was also the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Canadian in 2017. He is a two-time CFL All-Star and three-time CFL West All-Star. Messam played college football for Graceland University.

John Harvey is a former award-winning Canadian Football League running back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Manziel</span> American football player (born 1992)

Johnathan Paul Manziel, nicknamed "Johnny Football", is an American former football quarterback who played two seasons with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2018, the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) in 2019, and in Fan Controlled Football from 2021 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernon Adams</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Vernon Anthony Adams Jr. is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Eastern Washington Eagles and Oregon Ducks. He has also been a member of the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Les Strayhorn is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes. He played college football at East Carolina University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Mathews</span> American gridiron football player (born 1991)

Jeffrey Kyle Mathews is a former American football quarterback who played four seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Cornell, where he was ranked among the top 20 quarterbacks in passing yardage in Division I FCS history. He surpassed the Cornell record for total passing yards by more than 2,000 yards and ended his collegiate career as the holder of 47 Cornell and 18 Ivy League conference records. After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mathews spent the summer with the Atlanta Falcons, and was a practice squad member of the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals. He moved north to the CFL, playing two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and a season each with the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes.

References

  1. Hamilton Tiger-Cats 2010 Media Guide and Record Book
  2. CFLAPEDIA entry: Andy Hopkins

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Andy Hopkins at Wikimedia Commons