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Texans' Hopkins, Bills' Watkins share bond as tight as grips
Dec 3, 2015, 6:28 PM
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The friendship between Texans star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and burgeoning Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins rivals their ironclad grip on the football.
They share the same college, a penchant for acrobatic catches and an adventurous sense for fashion.
When the former Clemson standouts' respective teams square off Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Hopkins is firmly established as a Pro Bowl candidate. Watkins is still building his case to be included among the elite NFL wide receivers.
Hopkins and Watkins' mutual admiration society was launched on the Clemson practice field where they emerged as first-round draft picks under the watchful eye of receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott.
"I was obviously very spoiled, having both of them on the field at the same time," Scott said in a telephone interview. "The biggest thing that sticks out about those guys is they were extremely hard workers. They stayed after practice, always worked on their craft.
"On Saturdays, they made a lot of catches look easy to a lot of fans who didn't see the amount of work they put in. Both are big-time competitors with a great mentality for the game who can turn on the switch."
TEXANS
The combination of Sammy Watkins, left, and DeAndre Hopkins was a frightening sight for defensive backs who had to play Clemson during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Texans' Hopkins, Bills' Watkins share bond as tight as grips Rex Ryan poses for photos after an NFL football news conference where he was introduced as the new head coach of the Buffalo Bills, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert) Texans report: Groin injury won't sideline Watt on Sunday KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 29: Sammy Watkins #14 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with teammate Tyrod Taylor #5 after a touchdown reception at Arrowhead Stadium during the second quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 29, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) Texans vs. Bills: 10 things to watch Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Johnny Manziel, left, and Austin Davis, center, talk beside offensive coordinator John DeFilippo in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens Monday, Nov. 30, 2015, in Cleveland. Baltimore won 33-27. Johnny Manziel remains on Cleveland Browns' bench Texans report: Defense not resting on laurels Houston Texans defensive end Tim Jamison (96) and defensive end J.J. Watt (99) chat with a Houston Police officer on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL preseason football game at Reliant Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, in Houston. Police union cites ISIS attacks in request to NFL to allow
'Brothers off the field'
One year older than Watkins, the 23-year-old Hopkins caught 82 passes for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns in an All-American season three years ago during his final college season before being drafted by the Texans. One year later for the Tigers before declaring early for the draft, Watkins caught a career-high 101 passes for 1,464 yards and a dozen touchdowns.
Now, two of the more dangerous wide receivers make it a point to talk all the time. Their conversations run the gamut, everything from comparing scouting reports on opposing cornerbacks to talking about life and family.
"We always knew we were going to have a relationship because of the relationship we built at Clemson," Hopkins said. "No matter where we went, if we were rivals in the same conference, we knew we would still be brothers off the field. We keep in touch a lot."
It all started at Clemson where Hopkins and Watkins transformed the practice field into a personal laboratory where they experimented with catching techniques and pass patterns. The extra work has paid major dividends.
"We had competitions in college, catching the ball, having the crazy catches, having stats, who got the catches and yards," Watkins said. "He did crazier things at Clemson. He purposely does them. When he catches it with one hand, he's definitely trying to catch it one-handed."
Added Hopkins: "It was really just seeing who could make the better catches. We knew we could catch the ball with two hands. It's just who could make a more spectacular catch in practice."
Watkins battled through an ankle injury that has limited him to eight games but has 31 catches for 526 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. He caught six passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns Sunday in a 30-22 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Words of advice
Watkins has navigated the dramatic swings of the NFL pendulum, relying on Hopkins' advice all the way to overcome difficulties and upgrade the subtle nuances of his game.
"I was having bad times with not getting the ball and little situations, and he told me to stay focused and you can't control everything," Watkins said. "The next thing you know it, I have a great game. He texted me, 'God got a plan, man, just take it slow.' Once I realized that, I got back to work.
"He has been a big brother to me, on and off the field."
Hopkins is a muscular 6-1, 218 pounds with 333?8-inch long arms and 10-inch hands that have allowed him to routinely make slick, one-handed catches. He has become one of the most ambidextrous wide receivers in the league.
"We saw DeAndre make a lot of one-handed catches in high school," said Scott of Hopkins, who caught 18 touchdowns with 28 interceptions at D.W. Daniel High School in Central, S.C. "He has huge hands and has been catching with one hand for a long time. I could tell early on DeAndre was going to be a special receiver and have a big-time future just because of the way he carried himself.
"Very low-key and low maintenance off the field. He practiced like it was a game. What separated him was his mentality. When the ball was thrown his way, you were already thinking about the next play because you assumed he would catch it. Some guys you hold your breath. With him, it was almost guaranteed."
Eleven games into his third season, Hopkins already has 209 career receptions for 3,093 yards and 17 touchdowns. His high-wire act of terrific catches has triggered nods of respect on social media from other practitioners of the art form, including the New York Giants' Odell Beckham and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown.
"They talk about Beckham, this guy makes the same kind of catches all the time," Bills coach Rex Ryan said of Hopkins. "There's some faster guys, but I don't know how many are more competitive than he is."
Two of a kind
At 6-1, 211 pounds, Watkins has 4.43 speed in the 40-yard dash, faster than Hopkins' 4.57 time.
However, Hopkins has topped Watkins' production with a career-high 81 receptions this year for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns. Watkins is regarded as an ascending player who caught 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie last year.
"Sammy's style early on was his great ability to run after the catch," Scott said. "He caught a lot of quick screens, had great acceleration and eventually developed into a big-time threat down the field."
Just like many siblings, Hopkins and Watkins even share clothes. Hopkins didn't mind when Watkins borrowed his jacket to wear to the draft last year in New York where Bills general manager Doug Whaley traded up to draft him fourth overall.
"Honestly, I think we're kind of the same type of dudes, same players, same mentalities, same off-the-field things that we like," Watkins said. "He's got a little bit of dress code that he lives by and I changed mine at Clemson. I kind of dress like him.
"I was trying to imitate everything that he did."
One year after the Texans' 23-17 victory over the Bills, Hopkins is looking to improve to 2-0 against his college buddy.
"This is going to be something we can talk about during the offseason, win or lose," Hopkins said. "Hopefully, we can keep that streak going. … I've seen him grow up, seen him come a long way, so it's going to be exciting seeing him."
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-Hopkins-Bills-Watkins-still-share-bond-6671919.php?t=ae953fb3bd438d9cbb&cmpid=twitter-premium
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