Colorado Tackle Santana Hopper Earned National Honor

The defensive tackle received the highest weekly grade from Pro Football Network for his effort against Texas Tech.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Football

Expressive digital illustration of a football player in black and gold lunging forward, capturing the intensity of a defensive tackle. — Colorado defensive tackle Santana Hopper received the nation's highest weekly grade from Pro Football Network for his performance against Texas Tech. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Colorado defensive tackle Santana Hopper was awarded a 92.7 grade by Pro Football Network for his performance in Week 5. This mark stands as the highest grade given to any defensive tackle in the country for the week.

Why it matters

Colorado acquired the 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive lineman to bolster its front following defensive struggles against the run during the 2025 season. His high-impact play is a key component for the team's defensive strategy as Big 12 conference competition continues.

Santana Hopper recorded 10 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 4 quarterback hits against Texas Tech. These metrics follow his 2025 campaign at Tulane where he recorded 31 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.

The players

Santana Hopper

He is a 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive tackle who transferred to Colorado after playing for Tulane during the 2025 season.

Pro Football Network

This organization provides analytical performance evaluations and statistical grading for college football players.

Texas Tech

This university operates a football program that competes in the Big 12 Conference.

Colorado Buffaloes

The University of Colorado Boulder football team competes as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

The details

Despite the individual recognition for Hopper, Colorado fell to Texas Tech with a final score of 29-7. Hopper maintained a relentless presence in the backfield throughout the contest to earn his national top ranking.

Santana Hopper recorded 31 tackles during the 2025 season.
The defensive performance occurred during Week 5.
Recognition was published on 2026-10-06.

Season Trajectory

Hopper's elite production against Texas Tech highlights the immediate impact Colorado expects from its defensive transfers to remain competitive. This performance signals a potential stabilizing factor for the team's defensive unit as they navigate the rigorous demands of the Big 12 schedule.

Hopper's 5 tackles for loss and 4 quarterback hits provide a statistically significant boost to his season impact rating. This production suggests an evolving role for the defensive line in future game plans despite the loss to Texas Tech.

The takeaway

Players like Hopper illustrate the importance of high-impact defensive transfers in adjusting to modern conference play. Maintaining such statistical production is essential for programs aiming to improve their defensive efficiency throughout the remainder of the season.