Hopkins was going to have a red-shirt year from the moment they drafted him. It was baked into the pick. But that doesn't mean that he hasn't bulked up a bit, had some reps catching the football in practice, and learned some routes.
He had 2 good TEs and a strong smart blocking TE ahead of him. No way he was going to play unless 1 of the top 3 got hurt.
But.... with Everett gone, he's odds on to be 1 of the 3. Harris will be suited every week as an ST's guy. But barring an injury, he'll be red-shirted as a TE...... or he may be used as a kind of hybrid WR/TE at least to start his career. The dude can flat out outrun most the guys that are going to guard him.
