NFL hopeful Marquez Cooper plays the game with a chip on his shoulder
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Marquez Cooper layups up the football after crossing the goal line. (Don De Mars/EVT)
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Marquez Cooper plays the game with a chip on his shoulder. This motivation will take him far in the game of football. The future is bright as the world gets to know the former Aztecs running back.
Being an Aztec for Life is something meaningful in collegiate athletics.
San Diego State consistently produces talent for the NFL. The latest NFL hopeful is Marquez Cooper.
Though Cooper only spent one year on The Mesa, his lasting impression will be felt for years. His teammates glow when talking about Cooper. The SDSU coaching staff also gushes when discussing his ability on and off the field. Cooper is a leader. He plays the game the right way, and the next few months will be an exciting time for the young running back.
Earlier this month, Cooper was one of several players to participate in the Tropical Bowl. This is an early opportunity for NFL scouts to preview talent up and close. Multiple teams took a serious look at Cooper as he impressed in several facets of the game. “It was an incredible experience, and I got a chance to talk to a lot of NFL teams. I was hungry and determined, and I showed that through every touch I had, even if it was one rep,” Cooper explained to EVT this week.
Adjusting and learning on the fly is vital for success in the NFL. Cooper showed that he is a student of the game. “I was able to learn a scheme very quickly. They sent us the wrong playbook at first. Then they sent us the right one, and we had a day to learn it. I studied all day and had to execute the plays,” Copper said. His football intelligence is well known, and he showcased that trait at the Tropical Bowl.
The powerful runner showcased his ability in front of numerous scouts. He knows how to motivate himself. Marquez Cooper knows how to turn on his ability. “My first memory of the Bowl was when I was given number 39. I felt disrespected. But then I realized that all the running backs got numbers in the 30s. No matter what number they gave me, I was going to ball out. But that gave me a little chip on my shoulder,” Cooper said with a chuckle.
There were several teams interested in talking to Cooper after the game. He made a positive showing for himself and hopes to be given an opportunity somewhere. The chip on his shoulder has taken this running back far in the game. We talked more about it in detail. “Everything leading up to this point has put a chip on my shoulder. I wasn’t the most highly recruited guy. I had to work for everything I had in high school. Even now, I feel like I am going to be an undrafted free agent. That is unfortunate. But I have always played that underdog role.”
The young running back realizes that being undrafted is a real possibility. That will not be something that keeps him down. He cannot control where or if he is taken. Instead, he will reward the franchise that takes a chance on him. The reality is Marquez Cooper is a football player in every sense of the word, and that goes way beyond hype or perceived ability.
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Cooper fell in love with the game of football very early in life. We discussed some of his first memories of the game. “My earliest memory is probably my first touchdown in Little League. I got through the hole, made a move on the safety, and just ran it in for like 50-60 yards,” Cooper said fondly about the memory. It was this early success that fueled his NFL dreams. “I have always wanted to play at that level. I stayed the course and played the game the best I could. Every single day, I did the best I could. I always just focused on what was next for me. I focused on being the best in my high school team, the best in college, and hopefully now the best on an NFL team.”
Motivation goes a long way in sports. Creating that edge over your opponents and keeping it provides an advantage. “Playing the game has given me everything. It gave me an opportunity to go to college and get a scholarship. The game has always been good to me. It is like a job,” Cooper explains. His work ethic in attacking everything put in front of him has led to the success of this young man. He also points to family as a big factor in getting him to where he is today. “My son is also my biggest motivation now. Before him, it was a family thing. I was placed in it, and I loved it. I watched my older cousins and uncle play the game. I looked up to them, and that was a huge motivation.”
The two of us discussed his game and how he racked up all the yards in his collegiate career. Cooper is 19th all-time in college football history in terms of yardage. That is a huge accomplishment for the young back and something to be very proud of. “It will be something that I always look back on, whether it’s mentoring my son or other kids who look up to me. To show them that anything is possible. No matter your size or where you come from. Anything can happen if you work for it. It takes hard work,” Cooper said with a serious tone in his voice.
His style and ability to gain yardage are effective. We discussed how he became such a prolific runner. “I feel like it all starts with my tempo in the backfield. To remain very patient. I get a good feeling of how the defense is going to play me. I take my time when I am about to get the ball. Once I see the hole, it is the ability to make any type of jump cut or any move I need to make to get to a certain hole and burst through it. I keep my shoulder squared, which allows me to go vertically and see the cutback,” Cooper explains about his technique.
His vision and footwork are outstanding. Cooper displays an innate ability to make people miss and turn negative yards into positive numbers. “I am able to scan the whole field, and if there is a hole, I can find it nine times out of ten. When I get to the safety, I am a threat. There are a lot of moves in my arsenal. Making them miss and making them look silly is in my game. If I have to run them over or straight-arm them, I will do it. I watch film and get a good idea of how they are going to try and tackle me,” Cooper told EVT.
Marquez Cooper is not a large running back. Some would say that he is a bit undersized. That is not something that hinders the running back, and if you ask him — it’s a positive thing. “I think my size can be an advantage. It is hard for the linebackers to see me, especially when my offensive line is driving down the field and standing people up. It makes it difficult for the defense to find me through the holes. It also gives me a low sense of gravity and great balance. I can cut anyway on the field. It also gives me great durability as I have strong legs and no leg problems. I have been able to play for a long time, season after season, god willing, without an injury,” Cooper said.
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His idols in the game are all smaller-sized backs who enjoyed or are enjoying great careers. “I like guys like Maurice Jones-Drew, Barry Sanders, Darren Sproles, and LeSean McCoy. I was intrigued by Saquon Barkley at Penn State and watched his journey all the way through,” Cooper said with determination. There are several different ways to succeed in the NFL. Cooper knows he just needs a chance. All that is required is an opportunity to show his value.
Despite his size, Cooper is a complete back. He is willing to pick up blitz packages and receive the ball out of the backfield. He is well aware of the nuances of the game and what it takes for ultimate success. “I am very determined. My coach, Mathew Johnson, harped on it (being a complete back). He is at San Diego State now. He made it very clear to me that I needed to be able to do that to play in the NFL. I have always liked hitting people. I am not afraid of contact. Seeing a guy, I am supposed to be picking up is exciting to me. No matter what size he is. The initial strike from me is something he is going to feel.”
Cooper did not have a long career at San Diego State University, but he created long-lasting memories. “Being able to lead the team on the field with the shield was incredible. Coming out of the tunnel every game was awesome. Even just coming out of the bus was big time. The fans did an incredible job of supporting us and it was all the way through. Everything was great about San Diego. It was just a great place to play football,” Cooper said with joy in his voice.
The term Aztec for Life is something that football players from SDSU do not take lightly. When asked what it meant to him, his response was clear. “Setting the standard and keeping the tradition. There are guys like Marshall Faulk and Donnel Pumphrey who made history there. I am trying to keep the same thing going and make more history. Once you put that jersey on, you get the love from the coaching staff and the people. You feel destined.”
The NFL is calling, and the next several months will be huge for Marquez Cooper. I asked him simply — why an NFL team should take a chance on him. His response sums up Cooper in a nutshell. “A team should take a chance on me because they are getting someone who is reliable. I am trustable. I will be where I need to be every single day. They are going to get a guy who will be there every day to perform and do whatever they can for the team. I love the game. I don’t disrespect the game. I was in college for five years and at every single practice and workout. I was never late. You are getting a guy who is reliable and someone who will give everything they have for the team.”
Marquez Cooper is a ball player. He has the ability to be special. With a little luck, this man’s future should be bright. His teammates and coaches are on his side, and they all speak positively about him. “I can build great relationships with people, and I am someone you can rely on all the time,” Cooper explained in his last words.
It is only a matter of time before he provides a franchise with a versatile young back.
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James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.