Former Hollywood McArthur star LB Hyppolite a surprise pick in fourth round of NFL Draft
Ruben Hyppolite II didn't garner much interest from college football's powerhouses when he was starring at Hollywood McArthur. He didn't score an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine after wrapping up a solid career with the Maryland Terrapins. He didn't pop up in many mock drafts — if any — leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft this week.
Even so, Hyppolite is headed to the Chicago Bears as the 30th pick of the fourth round — No. 132 overall — in the NFL Draft on Saturday.
The 6-foot, 232-pound linebacker was a five-year contributor at Maryland — he got to play an extra season because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and piled up 236 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and six passes defended during his time in College Park, starting all but five games during his time as a Terrapin. As a senior last year, Hyppolite had 66 tackles and set a career high with seven tackles for loss.
Speed has always been Hyppolite's greatest tool and he ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.39 seconds at his Pro Day in the lead up to the Draft — the time would have been the fastest at the Scouting Combine had Hyppolite been invited.
Although most of the biggest programs in college football were not interested in him, Hyppolite still finished his high school career in Hollywood as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He was a two-time first-team All-Broward County selection and had 61 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception during his senior season with the Mustangs.
Hyppolite is now poised to end a lengthy drought for McArthur in the NFL. The last Mustang to suit up in an NFL game was defensive back Bryant McFadden, in 2011. Hyppolite is also the first McArthur alumnus to be drafted into the NFL since McFadden and defensive end Erasmus James were both picked in the 2005 NFL Draft.
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