Daeden Hopkins needed some convincing.
The Hermann High defensive lineman had been told by coaches at the high school and college levels that he possessed the potential to become a top-notch NCAA Division I standout.
The 6-foot-6, 230-pounder wasn't sure — until last year's season-opening game against Montgomery County.
Hopkins recorded a highlight-reel sack early in that contest. He used a nifty cross-chop on the offensive lineman and then raced across the field from the other side before running down the opposing quarterback.
"Everyone was pretty excited," Hopkins recalled.
Explained Hermann coach Jed Leeper, "I thought to myself, 'This is what he was meant to do.' "
Leeper had watched Hopkins turn in one impressive play after another in preseason practice.
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But this momentum-turning sack came in an actual game.
"For him, in that situation, it was a turning point," Leeper said.
Hopkins said the light bulb went on in his head seconds after what he called his "best sack of the season."
"I didn't have a whole lot of confidence," Hopkins said. "After that, I saw what I could be."
Hopkins' career took off from that point on.
This watershed moment gave the gentle giant the belief he could become a force on the defensive side of the ball.
Hopkins parlayed that performance into several other strong efforts. He finished with a team-high nine sacks in helping the Bearcats to a 7-4 record.
Most importantly, his continued progression, along with his size, drew the attention of college coaches across the Midwest.
The No. 7 recruit on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 football countdown of the area's top senior college football prospects, Hopkins decided in late April to attend Mizzou. He picked the Tigers from a final three that included Iowa State and Kansas State.
"That play just motivated me," Hopkins said of the sack.
A week later, Hopkins recovered a fumble and ran it back inside the 5-yard line to spur his team to a 28-24 win at South Callaway.
He has not slowed down since.
"He still doesn't realize how good he can be," said Leeper, a 1997 Hermann grad.
Part of those expectations come from Hopkins' total turnaround in one season.
There were times he appeared lost during his sophomore season. He made plays, partly due to his size and strength.
But the wow factor just wasn't there.
"He looked like a deer on ice part of the time," Leeper said.
Through hard work and determination in the offseason, Hopkins returned for his junior campaign a totally different performer.
By the end of last season, he had developed into a game changer and a feared edge rusher capable of dismantling an offense.
The Mizzou coaching staff saw plenty of upside in his game as well.
"It's all come about really quickly," his mother Rachel said of Hopkins' notoriety among college coaches. "Everything took off. It was a complete whirlwind."
A basketball, baseball and track and field athlete, Hopkins' early dreams were of a baseball career behind the plate. His rapid growth quickly put those thought to an end.
"I really wanted to play baseball, but being so tall, it didn't work out," Hopkins said.
Hopkins comes from strong athletic stock. His mother, the former Rachel Baumstark helped the Bearcats win the Class 2A state volleyball title in 1997 before going on to play at the University of Nebraska. Hopkins' father, Lannie, played safety at Nebraska, where the couple met.
"My mom's family has a lot of size in it," Hopkins said.
Hopkins is almost as deadly on the offensive side of the ball. A wide receiver, he caught a team-best 50 passes for 691 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, including a nine-catch effort in the season opener against Montgomery County.
But the Mizzou coaching staff believes that Hopkins can be a disruptor at the defensive end.
The Rhineland resident is a self-proclaimed "country boy" who enjoys hunting and fishing.
Hopkins likes to keep a low profile around campus, but his size and ability to get along with all types of social groups make him one of the more popular students in the school.
Leeper has seen Hopkins develop off the field as well as on it. Hopkins recently choose to pick on Leeper due to Leeper's penchant for drinking Mountain Dew all day long while preaching to his players to drink and eat healthy.
"He would have never done anything like that last year," Leeper said.
The Bearcats are expecting big things this season with several key players returning.
And Hopkins will be leading the way.
"He's just scratching the surface," Leeper said. "I can't wait to see how good he's going to get."
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