Hopper Takes His Football Career One Step at a Time : Shrine game: Strong safety is confident he can make the transition from Carson High to college play at USC.

Tarriel Hopper, a former Carson High standout, current member of the South team that will compete in the California Shrine All-Star Football Classic and future USC Trojan, was discussing his prospects for Saturday’s 6 p.m. game at the Rose Bowl.

“It’s one step up from Carson, so I’ll have to pick it up,” said Hopper, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound strong safety. “And, I suppose, USC will be one more step.”

Coaches and teammates think Hopper, 17, has the ability to make the transition from high school to major college football and make an impact.

Hopper (whose first name is pronounced ta-RELL) certainly has the size. Virtually everyone asked about Hopper’s football ability responds the same way: “The first thing is his size,” former Carson Coach Gene Vollnogle said.

South Coach Dick Barrett of Lompoc put it in football language: “He’s just a big stud.”

Of course, size without speed is useless on a football field, but Hopper has plenty of both.

Last year Hopper was timed at 4.5 seconds for the 40-yard dash, and he is noted for his ability to make tackles from his safety position.

Hopper was so good at it, in fact, that he made a team-leading 104 tackles on his way to being named Times All-South Bay and Best in the West by the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Hopper also recovered four fumbles and intercepted four passes, returning two for touchdowns.

Scoring touchdowns is nice, but Hopper’s biggest thrill is making a big hit.

When asked what his favorite part about football was, Hopper took a break from eating a slice of orange and responded, with a smile, “Violence.”

If the team needs a touchdown, Hopper concedes his love for the end zone, but not by much.

“It’s a flip between scoring a touchdown and making a hit when the game is on the line and we need a score, but if we’re in control, I’ll take the hit,” he said.

Former Carson quarterback and Shrine All-Star teammate John Walsh said, “Tarriel will come up there and pop you.”

Walsh, the celebrated transfer from West Torrance who led the state in passing, was a welcome addition to the Carson team last season, especially for Hopper.

Hopper, like many outstanding high school athletes, was asked to play more than one position (he also punts), and it was quarterback.

“I was so relieved when Walsh came over,” Hopper said. “That took a lot of pressure off me so I could concentrate on defense.”

Walsh, who will attend Brigham Young, and Carson flanker Abdul Muhammad, who will attend Nebraska, join Hopper on the South roster. Travis Davis of Banning, who will attend Notre Dame, will play defensive back in the game, which promoters claim to be the best high school all-star game in the nation.

“It’s our last shot at home and then we’re off,” said Walsh of himself, Muhammad and Davis.

Hopper would be on his way out of state as well, if it were up to the recruiting coordinators at Miami, Nebraska, Washington, Colorado, Illinois, Washington State, and Nevada Las Vegas, all of whom actively recruited Hopper. But his heart was always set on the 20-minute drive up the Harbor Freeway.

“I went through the regular recruiting process, but I always wanted to go to USC,” said Hopper, the youngest son of Alfred and Jeraldine Hopper of Carson.

His brother Darrel was a defensive back for the Trojans from 1981-84, then played for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers and Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He is currently at the Raiders training camp in Oxnard trying to win a roster spot as a wide receiver.

“I remember going to see my brother play and hearing the band, it sent chills up my spine,” Hopper said.

Hopper is used to emotional moments. He had the privilege of playing for Vollnogle in his last year at Carson, the legendary coach’s 28th at the school.

“Coach Vollnogle is my best memory from football,” Hopper said. “He was always more than a coach to us.”

Hopper recalled the Colts’ final practice before last year’s City Section 4-A Division championship victory over Banning.

“We have this tradition at Carson where the seniors take a lap at the end of the last practice, and Coach Vollnogle came up to us and said, ‘This is my last practice too, I’m taking the lap with you,’ and he ran with us. Guys were crying and getting emotional, we wanted to win for him.”

Vollnogle went out a winner, something he expects Hopper to be at USC.

“I think Tarriel will make it in big-time college ball,” Vollnogle said. “In addition to his size, he’s got an awful lot of talent, he can play linebacker, tight end, wide receiver, wherever.

“On defense he’s what you’d call a student of the game, he knew everyone’s assignment and would be able to make instant corrections.”

Hopper said his status for the fall will be determined by his play, but he wants to be a starter.

“I’ll go with starting as a goal, I always aim real high and expect a lot from myself,” Hopper said. “I don’t like settling for second-best.”

Hopper plans to major in criminal justice and wants to be a youth counselor when he’s done with football.

“Lots of kids are mixed up, they don’t know what to do, they don’t have solid families,” Hopper said. “I’d like to keep them from having to deal with the law. I see kids 10 years old who are getting in trouble, it’s bad news.”