Mississippi FB nearing first offer
Laurel (Miss.) fullback/linebacker Marcus Cooper is a big, bruising back that could play on either side of the ball on the collegiate level. He has had an uneventful summer thus far, but that will all change next month once the season starts.
“I still don’t have any offers right now, but I feel like Southern Miss is pretty close,” Cooper said. “They told me that they want to see some senior film on me and see me in camp. Mississippi State has pretty much told me the same thing.”
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The 6-foot-0, 215-pound Cooper runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds, has a 280-pound bench press, a 430-pound squat and a 31-inch vertical jump.
“I would say that right now my top two schools are Mississippi State and Southern Miss,” Cooper said. “I grew up a big Southern Miss fan. It’s just right down the road and my uncle Melvin Ratcliffe played there. My coach Ryan Ernest also played running back there.”
Last season he recorded 70 tackles (eight for loss), four sacks, and two fumble recoveries from the middle linebacker position and rushed for 300 yards and two scores as a fullback as a junior. He was named second team all-district and honorable mention all-area.
“Playing early is not a huge issue for me,” Cooper said. “It would be nice, but I know that most guys have to red-shirt and I am willing to do that. I’m just looking for a nice overall school with a good football program and academics. I would also like to play for a school that has nice facilities.”
So far this summer Cooper has attended camps at Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn and Southern Miss. He plans to attend a 7-on-7 camp at Mississippi State next weekend.