By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

DURHAM, N.C. — DeAndre Hopkins says his favorite catch of his career came two years ago as a freshman when he hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass against rival South Carolina. Being a South Carolina native from nearby Daniel High School in Central, he says it was special because it came in the state’s biggest game.

And though that might be his favorite, there is an argument his best catch came in Saturday night’s 56-20 victory over Duke. On the Tigers opening drive of the night, Clemson quickly marched down the field and found itself with a second-and-goal from the Duke five. Seeing he had single coverage, quarterback Tajh Boyd looked Hopkins’ way and threw a fade to the corner of the end zone.

Hopkins, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, leaped over the Blue Devils’ defensive back, hauling the pass in while getting both feet down to score the Tigers’ first touchdown of the night.

“Style points? I don’t know,” he smiled. “Tajh put the ball out there and I made a play.”

It did not take Hopkins long to make another play. On Clemson’s next possession, he split the safety and the cornerback and brought in a 58-yard touchdown pass that in this writer’s vague and historical reference resembled Terry Bradshaw’s 75-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Hopkins found the end zone once again the next time Clemson had the ball, as Boyd found him down the sideline for a 45-yard strike which gave Clemson a 21-10 lead with 4:49 to play in the first quarter. When the dust finally settled in the first 15 minutes, Hopkins had set the career-record in receiving touchdowns with 22 and set a new-single season-record with 13 touchdown receptions.

“I don’t think about that stuff too much,” Hopkins said. “My goal is always team goals and winning championships and stuff like that. My personal goals come last. Those will come if you work hard and put in the work.

“My goals have come true and I want to thank God for everything that has happened this season.”

With his 128 yards Saturday night, Hopkins now has 1,037 yards for the season on 62 catches.

“The biggest thing Nuk has done this year, he has been consistent,” Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said. “We know what kind of player he is. We know what kind of route runner he is and how hard he works.”

And that hard work is paying off in a big way for Hopkins and the Clemson offense.

“It’s great,” he said. “I have to thank the strength training people for putting the work in and helping all of us. It has shown up in everybody, not just me. It is showing on defense with our young guys and on offense with guys like Martavis (Bryant), Charone (Peake) and Sammy (Watkins).

“All of us guys are growing both physically and mentally. It’s good to see.”