Hooping it up with Dukes and Bell.

Interview Recap and Photo by Allison Smith

Austin Hooper joined 92.9’ The Game‘s afternoon show Dukes and Bell on Wednesday, September 18, 2019. 

Asked about the dancing in the locker room after the game, Hooper said that, “It always feels good to win, have to take the good with the bad, but have to enjoy when the wins come.” And said that his favorite time is the 20 minutes in the locker room, all together, “Jumping around really feeling the “Brotherhood” together.”

In his fourth game in his fourth year against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hooper feels more comfortable going against their defense.  He knows that Malcolm Jenkins is ‘the tell’ for their defense, so just watch where he is on the field and you will know what they are planning to do.

Asked if he can hear the fans yelling “Hooooop” from the stands, Hooper replied, “It’s pretty cool to hear it out there.  First year, I thought they were booing me, thought  **** I just got a first down, then realized they were saying “Hoop.” 

I’ve always thought it was funny, how many teams have a player with a nickname that sounds like a boo.  The Carolina Panthers had Brad Hoover, now Luke Kuechly, and of course, our own Truuuuuu.

In the off season and around team practices, Hooper does allot of work with Matt Ryan, but also lots of different drills/reps with the other receivers and Devonta Freeman, so they are all in sync.  In the end, Hooper knows as a  Tight End, that he is a blocker first.  That being said, he commented on the play of the offensive line, saying that lots of times they are all good in their blocking, but then everyone is taking turns messing up, not all at once, but is costly.  “We all, including me, have to be better.”   But the O line is becoming a more cohesive unit.  Hooper has full confidence in the offensive line and team.

Austin Hooper is becoming a very depended upon target and has 13 catches on 15 targets so far this season, for 111 yards.