DeAndre Hopkins is a game-changer, and Sports Illustrated agrees.
As part of the magazine's NFL preview issue, Sports Illustrated featured the Texans wide receiver on one of its four regional covers featuring the NFL's rising stars.
The covers, which also include defensive end Mike Daniels (Packers), defensive tackle Aaron Donald (Rams), and guard Trai Turner (Panthers), explain how each player has maximized his opportunity to be among the best at his respective position.
In just his third season, Hopkins finished third in the league in receptions (111), yards (1,521) and tied for seventh in touchdowns (11). Besides J.J. Watt, Hopkins is the first Texans player to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated since David Carr in 2002.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is quoted on the cover, saying Hopkins "has the things you can't coach, the things you can't teach."
Starting this week, the Hopkins issue can be found on newstands in Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
