SEATTLE – If the University of Washington football team had a true star coming into this season, it would have been defensive tackle Manase Hopoi. Hopoi was about the only bright spot in last season’s 1-10 disaster, leading the Pacific-10 and ranking fourth in the nation with 22 tackles for loss and making nine sacks.
Hopoi was prepared to build on that season and break the Huskies’ career record for tackles for loss and sacks. The Sporting News ranked him as the No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation, and he was viewed as one of the more disruptive defensive players in the Pac-10. And while he still might be a disruptive force, statistically his season has been a disappointment. Hopoi has just 71/2 tackles for loss and four sacks. Of his sacks, 31/2 came in the win over Idaho.
Those numbers have left Hopoi needing a huge effort against Washington State in Saturday’s Apple Cup to reach the top of the UW record list. Hopoi needs four sacks to tie Ron Holmes’ record of 28, and needs three tackles for loss to tie Jason Chorak’s 61 1/2 .
Justin Best / The Herald
Still, there’s no question Hopoi is the most dangerous player on the Washington defense, and teams have prepared thusly. That’s meant a lot of double teams, making it tough for the 6-foot-4, 290-pound Sacramento native to even get close to the quarterback. Hopoi says he’s seen more double teams this year than in the previous seasons.
“But you can’t say it’s all the double teams, because a lot of guys get double teamed,” Hopoi said. “It’s difficult. When I thought I had the quarterback, I’d get blocked again. Any time I’d do a move, I’d get blocked. The only time I touched quarterbacks was against Idaho. I got close in other games, but close isn’t good enough.”
Hopoi was a top recruit out of Valley (Calif.) High School, but as a partial qualifier he was ineligible to participate in games or redshirt as a freshman. Still, he was named Washington’s Defensive Scout of the Year in 2001 and the next season started every game at defensive end, leading the team with 17 tackles for loss and seven sacks. The next year, he started every game again, leading the team with four sacks while battling knee problems. Last year, bouncing between end and tackle, he had one of the top seasons by a Husky lineman ever, and because he earned his degree, he was granted a fifth year of eligibility, allowing him to come back this season.
And though Hopoi said he prepared well in the offseason to have a big year, if an opponent knows you are apt to get after the quarterback, they are going to do everything they can to stop you.
“I was trying to get prepared better and do little things right,” Hopoi said. “It’s been difficult trying to get to the quarterback. Teams know I’m trying to get after them. I can’t come out and get my way every year.”
“He’s gotten a lot of attention this year,” linebacker Evan Benjamin said. “Every time you see him, he’s got two or three guys on him. But him getting all that attention has helped open things up for the rest of us. So his numbers might not be as good, but that doesn’t mean he’s not playing as good.”
Hopoi’s play is a key part of Washington’s chances of beating Washington State on Saturday. He’ll need to find a way to pressure Cougars quarterback Alex Brink and try to turn WSU into a one-dimensional offense. From that point, Hopoi must occupy rushers to allow Husky linebackers to get after WSU running back Jerome Harrison, who leads the nation with a 169.3 yards-per-game average.
Hopoi says he’d like to break the school records and get to the quarterback against WSU. He hopes to get a shot at the NFL, which last year seemed assured, but now may be a little more iffy. He has been invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 21 in San Antonio, which will help his exposure. But he said at this point, he’s just focused on doing whatever it takes to beat the Cougars.
“It’s been ups and downs,” Hopoi said. “There’s been adversity, just like in life. I had a little success last year and this year, it’s not going my way. But I’ve got to continue to play hard and get better.”
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