long, twitchy Missouri edge with breakout upside
In the 2025 season, Daeden Hopkins flashed real edge-rusher juice for Missouri, playing in four games as a true freshman and posting 7 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, and 0.5 sacks before the Tigers redshirted him to preserve eligibility.[2][1] At 6-foot-6 and 237 pounds, his frame, length, and in-state pedigree make him a high-upside fit for a developmental pass-rush role, especially after showing he can convert burst into disruption in limited snaps.[3][11] He looks like a “bet on traits” defender: still growing into his body, but already trending as a breakout candidate with room to become a nasty problem off the edge.[11][12]
