New York Giants Draft Prospect: LB Ty’Ron Hopper

A team can never have too many edge rushers. So let's take a look at Ty'Ron Hopper's skill set.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Mar 28, 2024

In this story:

New York Giants

Ty’Ron Hopper

NFL Draft

Ty’Ron Hopper, LB

Height: 6’2
Weight: 231 lbs
Hands: 8 ⅞”
Arms: 31 ⅜”
Class: Senior
School: Missouri
Stats

A former four-star recruit who spent the first three years of his college career at Florida before transferring to Missouri for the last two seasons. He was a four-star recruit out of Roswell High School in Roswell, Georgia, back in 2019. Hopper played initially played safety in high school before moving to LB. He was the 11th-ranked Georgian and the 6th-ranked OLB while being the 84 overall player in that recruiting class. When he entered the transfer portal, he was the 6th ranked LB and a four-star recruit.

Hopper was one of many Florida Gator defenders who transferred to Mizzou. Hopper played 1,875 defensive snaps. He recorded 32 pressures in 2022 on just 125 pass-rushing reps. He finished his collegiate career with 65 pressures and is an asset when blitzing.

Strengths

* Good overall athlete with excellent agility
* Good speed to match LBs and TEs
* Sideline to sideline range was displayed when handling flare routes vs. RBs
* Explosive with good closing burst - can maintain speed when shifting/turning
* Fluid and changes direction swiftly
* Good short area quickness and burst into the target
* Physical into contact - provides pop
* Strikes with authority - quick trigger downhill
* Has shown ability to stack & shed due to physical nature
* Solid to recognize and slip around climbing guards while recentering to target (can take a bit too long)
* Gets low to the ground and dips under blocks and re-squares in a timely fashion
* Showed good zone coverage feel, ability to bait QB
--Kansas State Q2 12:49
* Explosive blitzer - 65 pressures in his career
* 0 to 100 acceleration into the pocket - better pick him up if he’s blitzing
* High-functioning motor
* Will provide special teams’ value

[View more draft prospect scouting profiles.]

Weaknesses

Lean for a linebacker - looks more like a safety
Over pursues/commits in the box
Adequate play strength when OL gain control
Not an efficient tackler - 22.7% missed tackle rate in 2023
Marginal angles from a distance when he’s not heading downhill
Eyes must improve in the tackle box
Will pinch too close to LOS and run himself out of the play
Peripheral vision in the box is adequate - sifting through traffic could improve
Inconsistent recognition in coverage and with rushing concepts - can be a bit late
Adequate overall in zone coverage
Can be more disciplined and controlled with angles/committing
Will be 23 years old this April

Summary

Hopper is an explosive athlete at the second level with bad intentions and the necessary range to work between the numbers. He plays like a heat-seeking missile, which is admirable, but his lack of control, inability to tackle efficiently, and questionable eye discipline are issues throughout his tape. Hopper does a good job avoiding the climbing OL at the second level, but he struggles to stack and shed when the OL gets a clean shot on him. He has the speed and movement skills to match most TEs and RBs, but eye candy can put him out of position, leaving a longer recovery distance.

His blitzing ability adds another component to his skill set. He has the upside of finding the football field in sub-packages as he continues to refine his game as a box-player. He’s a developmental player with athletic upside.

GRADE: 6.0D