08/21/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/21/2024 07:16
Cooper, a Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American selection, was also named to the United Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference Offensive Team.
Coming off a record-breaking year with 110 total NFL Draft picks (43 percent of the entire 2024 draft class) and 10 first-round selections, the Reese's Senior Bowl has showcased the best professional football prospects who have completed their collegiate eligibility since 1950. Traditionally played in January in Mobile, Alabama, the Mobile Arts & Sports Association organizes the annual game to raise millions of dollars for charitable organizations each year.
Despite missing four games due to injury last year, Cooper bounced back to earn UAC Second Team All-Conference honors. Cooper finished the 2023 campaign with 622 receiving yards off 28 receptions to go with five touchdowns. His 88.9 receiving yards per game led all Texan and UAC wide receivers, having the 11th-most in FCS football.
The St. Louis, Missouri, native had two multi-touchdown games that coincided with a pair of games with at least 100 receiving yards. Entering his fifth season as a Texan, Cooper has collected over 2,000 career receiving yards, 15 touchdowns in addition to being a two-time All-Conference player.
Cooper helped Tarleton State win its final four games of the 2023 season, finishing with their best record in the NCAA Division I Era at 8-3. After defeating in-state rival Abilene Christian for the first time since 2013 in the season finale, Tarleton State finished with the third-best winning percentage among all reclassifying schools since 2004 at .610. The Texans were also just the fourth reclassifying team in NCAA Division I to post eight or more wins in a single season.
Tarleton State begins the season nationally ranked in the top-25 preseason poll and is just one of two teams in the state of Texas (Incarnate Word) to be ranked. The Texans are also just one of two teams from the United Athletic Conference to be nationally ranked in the preseason poll (Central Arkansas)
The Texans, who are set to compete in their first season as a full-fledged NCAA Division I program in 2024, open the season at Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against McNeese in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN2.
Fans can purchase tickets for Tarleton Football's ESPN2 contest online here or stop by the Memorial Stadium Ticket Office Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. All Tarleton students, faculty and staff receive free admission and can claim their tickets here.
Season tickets are also still available for purchase starting at just $150. Fans can make their purchase by visiting TarletonSports.com/Tickets or by visiting the Tarleton Ticket Office in person located on the west side entrance of Memorial Stadium.