PRO: A third-round draft pick in 2002, was one of seven draft selections to make the final 53-man roster in 2002…has emerged as a big-time hitter and solid starter at free safety for the Steelers.

 

2004: Emerged as the starting free safety in 2004...9/12 vs. Oakland: made the first start of his pro career…finished with six total tackles (three solo)…logged 63 defensive plays (all but two)...9/19 at Baltimore: registered a career-high eight tackles (six solo)…also was credited with one pass defense...9/26 at Miami: made some ferocious hits…forced a fumble on Miami’s initial drive to end a scoring threat…finished with six total tackles (four solo)…played all 61 defensive snaps...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: tied Larry Foote for team honors with nine total tackles (eight solo)…played all 68 defensive snaps...10/10 vs. Cleveland: finished with six total tackles (four solo)…played all 59 defensive snaps…10/17 at Dallas: finished with seven solo tackles…played all 63 defensive snaps...10/31 vs. New England: registered one solo tackle…logged all 55 defensive plays...11/7 vs. Philadelphia: finished with four total tackles (three solo)…played 37 defensive snaps...11/14 at Cleveland: finished with five total tackles (four solo) and a team-high two passes defensed…played all 51 defensive snaps...11/21 at Cincinnati: registered four solo tackles…played all 46 defensive snaps...11/28 vs. Washington: led the team with 10 total tackles (seven solo)…also was credited with three pass defensed…played all 56 defensive snaps...12/5 at Jacksonville: registered nine total tackles…played all 66 defensive snaps...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: recorded his first career interception late in the game to help seal the Steelers’ victory…returned it 41 yards…finished with seven total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with two passes defensed...12/18 at N.Y. Giants: had one of the biggest games of his career…led the team with 10 total tackles (six solo)…played all 48 defensive snaps...12/26 vs. Baltimore: recorded three total tackles (two solo)…also had one pass defense…played all 54 defensive snaps...1/2/05 at Buffalo: finished with two total tackles (one solo)…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…logged 30 defensive plays...1/15/05 vs. N.Y. Jets: made his first career postseason start and responded with a double-digit tackling performance…finished with 10 total tackles (five solo)...1/23/05 vs. New England: registered five total tackles, including three solo…also was credited with a pass defense.

2003: 9/7 vs. Baltimore: Registered two special-teams tackles…logged 11 defensive plays. 9/14 at Kansas City: Had one solo special-teams tackle…played two defensive snaps. 9/21 at Cincinnati: Led the team with three solo special-teams tackles. 10/5 vs. Cleveland: Recorded one solo special-teams tackle. 10/12 at Denver: Was credited with one special-teams tackle. 10/26 vs. St. Louis: Made a crushing block that sprung Antwaan Randle El on his 84-yard punt return for a touchdown…had one special-teams assist. 11/9 vs. Arizona: Played one defensive snap…was credited with one special-teams assist. 11/17 at San Francisco: Was credited with one special-teams assist. 11/23 at Cleveland: Accumulated the most playing time of his Steelers career…finished with one solo tackle…logged 29 defensive snaps. 11/30 vs. Cincinnati: Finished with four solo tackles…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…played 19 defensive snaps. 12/7 vs. Oakland: Had two solo tackles…also registered two solo special-teams tackles…played 18 defensive snaps. 12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Was credited with one solo tackle…logged five defensive plays. 12/21 vs. San Diego: Recorded one solo tackle and was credited with a pass defense and two solo special-teams tackles…played 32 defensive snaps. 12/28 at Baltimore: Finished with two total tackles (one solo)…played seven defensive snaps.

2002: 9/15 vs. Oakland: Was credited with one special-teams tackle. 9/29 vs. Cleveland: Led the team with three special-teams tackles (two solos). 10/6 at New Orleans: Played six defensive snaps. 10/13 at Cincinnati: Logged four defensive plays…finished with one tackle…also was credited with two special-teams tackles (one solo). 10/27 at Baltimore: Forced a fumble on a kickoff return that led to second-quarter Steelers’ TD. 11/3 at Cleveland: Played three defensive snaps…registered one special-teams tackle. 11/10 vs. Atlanta: Played three defensive snaps…was credited with three special-teams tackles (one solo). 11/17 at Tennessee: Finished with two solo tackles…played four defensive snaps. 11/24 vs. Cincinnati: Accumulated his most extensive playing time of the season due to injuries…finished with three solo tackles…also was credited with one special-teams tackle…logged 29 defensive plays. 12/1 at Jacksonville: Finished with six solo tackles…also was credited with a quarterback hit/pressure. 12/8 vs. Houston: Had one special-teams tackle. 12/15 vs. Carolina: Was inactive for the first time this season. 12/23 at Tampa: Was inactive. 12/29 vs. Baltimore: Was credited with two special-teams tackles (one solo). 1/5 vs. Cleveland: Was credited with four solo tackles on special teams…was forced into action in the team’s pass defense because of injuries to the secondary. 1/11 at Tennessee: Finished with three total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with a solo special-teams tackle.

COLLEGE: 2001 Verizon Academic All-American first-team choice…Earned an NCAA post-graduate scholarship award to further his studies…All-Atlantic Coast Conference and Academic All-ACC first-team choice…Started every game at free safety…Recorded 76 tackles (46 solos) with nine pass deflections and three interceptions. Duke…Had 9 tackles (5 solos) and a pass break-up. North Carolina…Registered 7 solo tackles with an interception and a deflected pass…Also returned a blocked punt 10 yards. Wake Forest…Made 9 tackles (6 solos) and a pass deflection. Maryland…Collected 9 hits (6 solos) as he picked off a pass and batted away another. Clemson…Had a season-high 12 tackles (7 solos) and a pass break-up to earn FSU Player of the Week honors. North Carolina State…Credited with a 7-tackle performance. Florida…Deflected 2 passes and posted 9 tackles (5 solos). Georgia Tech…Had an interception and 4 tackles. Virginia Tech (Gator Bowl)…Made 6 tackles (3 solos), including one that stopped tailback Kevin Jones for a 2-yard loss. 2000 Co/SIDA Academic All-American selection…All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team and Academic All-ACC first-team choice…Started all year at free safety…Fourth on the team with 83 tackles (52 solos), including five stops for losses of 10 yards…Intercepted two passes and deflected eight others…Recovered and caused a fumble. Brigham Young…Deflected a pass and made 7 tackles (4 solos). Georgia Tech…Had 9 tackles (6 solos) and a pass break-up. North Carolina…Recovered a fumble, advancing the ball 12 yards for a touchdown and made 10 tackles (8 solos). Louisville…Credited with 10 tackles (6 solos) and a deflected pass. Maryland…Had an interception. Miami…Made 11 tackles (8 solos) with 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and deflected 2 passes. Clemson…Posted 8 tackles and a pass deflection. Wake Forest…Had 9 tackles (5 solos) and batted down a pass. Florida…Intercepted a Rex Grossman pass, deflected 2 others and made 7 tackles (4 solos). 1999 Played in every game, starting the final six contests at free safety…Recorded 41 tackles (28 solos) with two stops for losses of 4 yards and a forced fumble…Tied for the team lead with four interceptions for 17 yards in returns. Louisiana Tech…Recorded 4 tackles and an interception. North Carolina State, North Carolina and Clemson…Posted 4 tackles in each game. Duke…Had 3 hits and an interception. Virginia…Registered 6 tackles, including 2 stops for losses of 4 yards. Maryland…Made 6 tackles. Florida…Made a late fourth quarter interception, caused a fumble and made 6 tackles. Virginia Tech (Sugar Bowl)…Collected 4 tackles. 1998 Played in every game at free safety, recording 34 tackles (24 solos) with a pair of pass deflections, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. Southern California…Recovered a fumble. Miami…Had 5 tackles and a pass break-up. Florida…Batted away a pass and delivered 6 tackles. Duke and Clemson…Made 4 hits in both games. Wake Forest…Credited with a 6-tackle performance.

HIGH SCHOOL
A USA Today All-USA first-team and Parade All-American selection as a senior at Rock Hill (S.C.) High…Named the USA Today Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina and selected to the PrepStar's Dream Team and ranked as the No. 1 defensive back prospect in the nation by the renowned recruiting publication…Tabbed the No. 6 prospect at all positions nationally by Bill Buchalter…Earned All-American first-team honors from G&W recruiting…Rated the No. 3 defensive back and the No. 50 overall prospect in America by the National Recruiting Advisor…Member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 1000…Selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team…The No. 8 overall rated recruit and No. 1 defensive back recruit nationally by the Tampa Tribune…Ranked as the sixth-best recruit nationally by the St. Petersburg Times…Recorded 114 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back while rushing for 1319 yards and 20 touchdowns as a running back…Totaled 464 tackles, 10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries during his four-year varsity career…Established a school record as he started 55-straight games during his star-studded prep career.

PERSONAL: Was a USA Today All-USA first-team and Parade All-American selection as a senior at Rock Hill (S.C.) High…named the USA Today Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina and selected to the PrepStar’s Dream Team...ranked as the No. 1 defensive back prospect in the nation by PrepStar...rated the No. 3 defensive back and the No. 50 overall prospect in America by the National Recruiting Advisor...was a member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 1000...selected to the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team...rated as the No. 1 defensive back recruit nationally by the Tampa Tribune...ranked as the sixth-best recruit nationally by the St. Petersburg Times...recorded 114 tackles and three interceptions as a defensive back while rushing for 1,319 yards and 20 touchdowns as a running back...totaled 464 tackles, 10 interceptions and four fumble recoveries during his four-year varsity career...is the son of Randy and Mary Hope...Full name: Chris Hope.