Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is ready to embrace a leadership role at the club following the departure of veteran Andre Johnson.
The AFC South outfit released Johnson at the end of the 2014 season after the 33-year-old baulked at the idea of playing a reduced role at the club and joined their rivals the Indianapolis Colts.
Hopkins has revealed that he can't wait to start the season as the club's number one wideout and become the leader of the group in the locker room.
"It feels great," Hopkins told the club's official website. "My motto is I'm going to go out and work every day no matter who is here. It's a mentality that I always play with since I've been playing football.
"When they came in here, I told those guys, 'anything you need to know, just about the stadium or where to eat and any little thing'.
"I told those guys they could come to me. Coaches are going to help them transition into this offense, but a lot of wide receivers in there look up to me because we don't have 80 [Andre Johnson] here anymore. I like that chip on my shoulder."
Hopkins recorded 76 receptions for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns for the Texans in the 2014 campaign.
Simon Sinclair
