Santana Hopper lights up when he talks about his motivation.
The Colorado defensive lineman has a 7-year-old son who makes the dog days of fall camp much easier to grind through. Hopper is entering his fifth season of college football and he’s been able to — in a way — grow up alongside his son while raising him.
“I had my son very young so I kind of grew up with him in a sense,” Santana Hopper said on Tuesday. “When I wake up and it’s time to do things and work, I think of him and it’s kind of a lot easier to just put the hat on and get to work because I know what me and him came from.
“I know what we had to do to get to this point so it’s just a great driving force.”
When you watch Santana Hopper play, it makes sense that he’s playing for a purpose much larger than himself. The Tulane transfer was recently named a 2026 preseason first-team All-American by Pro Football Network after racking up the second-most QB pressures (39) among defensive tackles last year.
Hopper is a twitchy and disruptive interior force who consistently wins reps with quickness and an array of speed moves. No FBS defensive lineman had more QB hits (11) than Santana Hopper did in 2025.
It’s why he’s excited to showcase his skills on a much larger stage.
“This is really what I’ve been dreaming for,” Santana Hopper said Tuesday. “This is all I’ve been waiting for right here, my moment right here. I played at a high level everywhere I’ve been so coming to play on a stage like this will only help me and help the team go up.”
Colorado defensive line coach Dante Carter says his way of motivating Hopper is reminding him of his son.
“Think about your son every time you put your hand in that dirt,” Carter on what he tells Santana Hopper.
While Hopper’s son begins the second grade, the Colorado defensive lineman is preparing for his final year of college football. Pro scouts have taken notice and one more great season could result in Hopper hearing his name called during the 2027 NFL Draft.
According to Carter, Santana Hopper already operates like he’s in the League.
“Hop is a pro,” Carter said. “He’s gonna be a pro. He has a pro approach and man, Hop is gonna make a lot of plays for us this year.
“He’s gonna be a guy for us.”
