SDSU’s Hopp lone Alaskan still alive in FCS national title chase
Thomas Hopp
The fifth-seeded Jackrabbits defeated New Hampshire 56-14 in Brookings, South Dakota, to reach the final four of the NCAA D1 tournament.
Hopp, of South High fame, is a senior fullback.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder didn’t carry the ball, but he did make a tackle on special teams.
In fact, it was the second straight season the Alaskan made a tackle in a FCS playoff game.
Hopp has played in all 13 games this year for 11-2 South Dakota State.
He made nine tackles, including three solo, and had one tackle for loss. He also returned a kickoff eight yards.
Hopp came to South Dakota State in 2016 from Santa Barbara City College. He arrived as a linebacker but switched to fullback in the spring.
As a junior, he played in 10 games and was selected the team’s Special Teams Player of the Week during Hobo Game against Youngstown State.
He recorded a season-high two tackles in back-to-back games at Northern Iowa and against Villanova in the playoffs.