Santana Hopper

AS A TRANSFER

Rated as a three-star transfer prospect by 247 Sports.
Listed as the No. 232 player in the transfer portal and the No. 16 defensive lineman as of January 7, 2026.
Enters Colorado as an undergraduate transfer with one year to play one.

AT TULANE (2025)

Played in all 14 games during his lone season, starting in 13.
Finished the season with 31 total tackles, 17 unassisted tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery.
Was named a Second Team Preseason All-AAC selection by Athlon Sports, a First Team Preseason Phil Steele selection, and a Second Team HERO Sports Preseason Group of Five All-American selection.

AT APPALACHIAN STATE (2022-25)

Played in 26 career games across three seasons, starting in 16.
In 2024, he started in all 10 games he played in, finishing with 36 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, and 2.0 forced fumbles to go along with 20 QB pressures, the No. 1 total among Sun Belt defensive linemen, according to PFF.
Named to the All-Sun Belt first team.
Ranked No. 1 among Sun Belt defensive linemen with a season-long defensive grade of 82.7. Had a Pass-rush grade of 79.1, ranked No. 2 among Sun Belt defensive linemen, and a run-defense grade of 80.1, ranked No. 3 among Sun Belt defensive linemen, according to PFF.
Ranked No. 6 in the Sun Belt in sacks per game and No. 8 in forced fumbles per game.
Named a national defensive player of the week after forcing a fumble on a third-quarter sack, stopping a run for no gain, totaling three QB pressures, and receiving a 94.5 run-defense grade against ECU.
As a redshirt freshman, he appeared in all 14 games, starting the final six, and was named Second-team freshman All-American from College Football News and All-Sun Belt honorable mention.
Totaled 34 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery.
Had a four-game stretch midway through the season that included 5.5 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks at ODU.
Also had a sack in the Sun Belt title game and the Cure Bowl victory.
In his first season, he appeared in two games, playing defensive end against Robert Morris and Old Dominion.
Made first career tackle against Robert Morris.

HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS

A three-star prospect by the recruiting services.
On3 rates him at an 84, the No. 136 best defensive lineman in the class, and the No. 16 player from North Carolina.
247 Sports rates him at an 87 and lists him as the No. 93 defensive lineman and the No. 20 player from North Carolina.
247 Composite: No. 522 player nationally, No. 73 defensive lineman, No. 15 player from North Carolina.
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 601 player nationally, No. 67 defensive lineman in the class, No. 16 player from North Carolina.

AT SHELBY HIGH SCHOOL

Played three seasons of varsity football at Shelby High School under head coach Mike Wilbanks.
In the last three years at Shelby, totaled 176 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and 73 tackles for loss over 34 games.
Helped lead Shelby to two state titles and a 35-5 record over his final three seasons.
As a senior, in 13 games for a 15-1 state championship team, totaled 84 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, three blocked punts, and two forced fumbles.
Had multiple tackles for loss in 12 of 13 games, with a single-game high of five.
Had nine tackles, one sack, and three tackles for loss in a state championship game win against Wallace-Rose Hill in 2021.