Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Tamarcus Cooley

by:Adam Luckett•about 9 hours•

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Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack cornerback Tamarcus Cooley (15) runs out prior to the first half of the game against Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

The winter transfer portal window closed on Dec. 28. We’ve seen some heavy player movement in this free agency period. Teams are working rapidly to close these fast-paced recruitments and are currently hosting prospects on visits before the spring semester begins.

Kentucky is scheduled to get a big target on campus this weekend.

Ex-NC State standout cornerback Tamarcus Cooley plans to visit Ole Miss today and tomorrow, LSU Thursday, Missouri Friday and Kentucky Saturday, his agency @bzsportsmgmt tells @chris_hummer and me.

Cooley had three interceptions this year as a redshirt freshman.… pic.twitter.com/b7jU79LTR5
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 5, 2025

An SEC recruitment for Tamarcus Cooley has broken out since the defensive back entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2. Will Kentucky make a big splash this weekend after Cooley visits Ole Miss, LSU, and Missouri?

KSR’s Transfer Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the former three-star recruit with three years of eligibility remaining.

Redshirt season at Maryland

Tamarcus Cooley was a three-star recruit in the 2023 high school cycle out Rolesville (N.C.) High out of the Raleigh suburbs. The defensive back committed to NC State the summer before his senior year. The two-way standout scored nine touchdowns on offense and recorded nine touchdowns on defense. But the recruitment changed.

Tamarcus Cooley flipped to Maryland on signing day and would begin in his collegiate career in the Big Ten.

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As a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility remaining, Cooley entered the portal on Dec. 13 and committed to NC State on Dec. 18.

Starter at NC State

As a redshirt freshman in the ACC, Tamarcus Cooley played in defensive coordinator Tony Gibson‘s 3-3-5 scheme in the nickel position as the fifth defensive back. The North Carolina native had a big season for a Wolfpack defense that finished the season ranked No. 41 in success rate allowed.

Cooley finished the season with 39 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 620 snaps.

GOING THE OTHER WAY!#1Pack1Goal pic.twitter.com/g3WYmzYymm
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) December 29, 2024

Cooley was a havoc creator for a pressure-heavy defense who was a consistent performer in coverage.

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Tamarcus Cooley is a nickel transfer with a unique skill set. The defensive back shined for NC State playing a hybrid position in 2024 and figures to become a plug-and-play starter at his next stops with multiple years of eligibility remaining.

This is my scouting write-up on the transfer looking for this third school in three years.

Tamarcus Cooley (5-11, 205) is a nickel defensive back with long arms and excellent length. Comfortable in man coverage and uses length to his advantage. Shows athleticism on blitzes but needs improvement as a striker to disengage. Shows effort as a pursuit defender and flashes power as a wrap-up tackler.

The defensive is a coverage first nickel who competes in man coverage and wins his fair share of battles in isolation. Needs to add play strength but was a quality first-year starter in 2024 with good physical traits and room to improve.