SEATTLE – Each recruiting class yields a wide array of prospects. Some are well known across the country, while others have to make a name for themselves.
Milton Hopkins Jr. could find himself listed in both categories.
He led O’Dea High School to a near perfect season his junior year, losing 20-12 to Eastside Catholic in the 3A state football championship to finish 12-1 overall. At the time Hopkins did not hold a single scholarship offer.
The following week Hopkins received a visit from Bob Gregory, at the time the inside linebackers’ coach at the University of Washington. UW has signed several players from the nearby private high school, including the all-time rushing leader in school history, Myles Gaskin, and most recently offensive lineman Owen Prentice.
However, the dilemma for the UW coaches was where to slot Hopkins on the field.
His junior season was spent at quarterback. With sophomore starter Dylan Morris already on the roster and five-star legacy Sam Huard enrolling this year, Hopkins wasn’t going to become Cam Newton in Purple and Gold.
But his 6-foot-5 and 210-pound frame did open the door to play an assortment of positions; tight end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, you name it.
Prior to his departure for the University of Texas to become the defensive coordinator under Steve Sarkisian, Pete Kwiatkowski won the battle over Derham Cato to determine where Hopkins would play.
Outside linebacker.
With Kwiatkowski gone, and Gregory elevated to fill his role as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator, there could be no limit to the ways in which the versatile athlete is used at UW.
“I feel like I could play a lot of positions. A lot of people tell me I can play on the offensive side at tight end and stuff,” Hopkins said.
“But people see me as a defender as an end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, and some people say I can play safety, too. Because I can move enough to play on that secondary – I’m very comfortable, not scared to that either. I feel with my talent and my physical ability I can play all three levels.”
No matter the position he plays, it was unequivocal Hopkins would play at Washington.
From Gregory to Kwiatkowski, to Cato – who told him he was being offered a preferred walk-on opportunity in mid-December – it was about the people, the relationships he developed with the coaches that won out.
“I chose UW because I felt the most comfortable, in terms of development with the football program. And then off the field with the environment, with the city, my friends and family here,” he said.
Hopkins received scholarship offers from Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Nevada and San Jose State, but chose instead to bet on himself.
On top of the familiarity that he felt from the staff and school, it was the tradition of players going through the program and coming out in the NFL that also helped him feel comfortable with his choice.
“The comfortability part was just seeing the history of seeing them put guys in the league. Seeing the development that they had with a few defensive players like Shaq Thompson and Marcus Peters,” he said.
“Just defenders in general in the program. That’s what made me comfortable. I just felt like I wanted to stay home and close – playing in front of my friends and family.”
In short, the Myles Gaskin route, with a touch of Myles Bryant – scholarship talent earned the old-fashioned way.
“Seeing Gaskin doing it, it just gives us hope that we could go to UW and still be successful regardless," he said. "Stay home and rep the city.”
