Daeden Hopkins Earned SEC Weekly Honors

The Southeastern Conference named the Missouri defender Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Football

Daeden Hopkins Earned SEC Weekly Honors

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Missouri defender Daeden Hopkins has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. The honor follows his standout performance in the team's game against Mississippi State.

Why it matters

This award recognizes Hopkins for his dominant effort on the field despite the team's loss. His individual performance has established him as a key defensive presence for the Missouri program this season.

Hopkins recorded 3.5 sacks and 4.0 total tackles in the game against Mississippi State. He currently holds a ProFootballFocus pass-rushing grade of 90.8 for the season.

The players

Daeden Hopkins

He is a defensive player for the University of Missouri football team who hails from Hermann, Missouri.

Southeastern Conference

This is a collegiate athletic conference that manages football competition among member universities.

The details

Hopkins anchored the defense during the 31-24 loss in Starkville. His effort included 3.5 sacks, contributing significantly to his current season total of 6.0 sacks.

Timeline

  1. September 14, 2026: Hopkins earned his first SEC weekly honor of the season.

  2. September 26, 2026: Hopkins recorded 3.5 sacks against Mississippi State.

  3. September 28, 2026: The SEC announced Hopkins as Defensive Lineman of the Week.

  4. October 3, 2026: Missouri hosts Florida for homecoming at 2:30 p.m.

Season Trajectory

This defensive performance marks a shift in Missouri's defensive output as the team prepares to host Florida. Securing high-level play from key positions is essential for the team to rebound following the recent loss to Mississippi State.

Hopkins now boasts 6.0 total sacks on the season, establishing him as a statistical leader on the defense. His performance sets a high baseline for the defensive rotation as the team looks toward the matchup against Florida.

The takeaway

Individual accolades reflect the high level of talent maintained by defensive players despite recent team losses. Sustaining this defensive pressure will be critical for Missouri as they enter the remainder of their conference schedule.

What happens next

Missouri will host Florida on October 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Faurot Field.

Further reading

For more on the team's upcoming schedule, visit the Football section.

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