FSU Football: Dustin Hopkins Finds Home With Redskins
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football continues to put players in the NFL. Former kicker Dustin Hopkins seems to have found a home with the Washington Redskins.
Former FSU football kicker Dustin Hopkins was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 177th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills. He joined former FSU football quarterback EJ Manuel and punter Shawn Powell on the roster.
Hopkins signed a four-year deal and earned the starting placekicker job in August 2013, but sustained a groin injury that forced the Bills to place him on the injured reserve list.
Fast forward to August 2014, Hopkins lost his starting gig to Dan Carpenter and the Bills released him later that month.
The New Orleans Saints signed Hopkins to their practice squad in December 2014, and Hopkins lost the competition to be the starting placekicker and was released from the team in September 5, 2015.
Another door opened.
The Washington Redskins signed Hopkins on September 14, 2015, and the rest is history. Hopkins made 25 of 28 field goals on the season for a 89.3 percentage. He missed one extra point making 39 of 40 attempts, and made season long field goal from 54 yards.
Redskins special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica spoke about the value of Hopkins to the Redskins at Redskins.com:
“Yeah, I think the numbers will tell you that starting field position, where you can hold your opponent to, is a key statistic and it helps the football team,” Kotwica said. “I think Dustin is a part of that, also the guys that were covering getting a little more comfortable. We had some carry over from last year, getting more comfortable with what we were trying to do, so I think anytime you can change the field a little bit in that phase of the game that it helps your team.”
Hopkins kickoffs resulted in a touchback 65 percent of the time and teams averaged 19.7 yards per kickoff return which is a five yard improvement over 2014. Those hidden yards add up in a league that’s trending more and more to the offensive side of the ball.
“He did an outstanding job coming in,” Kotwica said. “Great pop on the football, excellent leg strength which was demonstrated in the way he kicked the football off and made some key kicks throughout the course of the year.”
Hopkins has always had a strong leg. Who could forget his game winning 55 yard kick against Clemson in 2010 that would have been good from 65 yards? We have it for you below in case you forgot and want to relive that moment:
Next: Roberto Aguayo 2016 NFL Draft Profile
It’s great to see ‘Noles representing in the league. Sebastian Janikowski and Dustin Hopkins are about to be joined in the NFL by former FSU football kicker Roberto Aguayo. He’ll likely get drafted in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft.