Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Trey Cooley

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Sep 1, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Trey Cooley (0) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Louisville Cardinals in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-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 hosted another tailback target over the weekend for a visit just three weeks after adding Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell to the roster.

Georgia Tech tailback Trey Cooley joined his younger brother Tamarcus Cooley (NC State defensive back) in Lexington over the weekend. Cooley is a former four-star recruit who will be a redshirt senior in 2025 with one year of eligibility remaining.

✅ pic.twitter.com/tCFeaAq0Xg
— Trevion Cooley (@TrevionCooley) January 11, 2025

Could Kentucky double-dip at tailback in the portal? KSR’s Transfer Bio Blast is taking a closer look at the ACC tailback with 1,009 career rushing rushing yards who entered the portal on Jan. 6.

Two years at Louisville

Trevion Cooley starred at Knightdale (N.C.) High and received a high volume of interest on the trail. The tailback’s senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Cooley emerged onto the scene with a big junior season. The class of 2021 product would join Scott Satterfield‘s program at Louisville picking the Cardinals over Florida and Duke.

What. A. PLAY!!!!@MalikMalikc10 ➡️ @TrevionCooley for the score!!

Watch @espn: https://t.co/zfCEw5nAyR #GoCards x #BeatDuke pic.twitter.com/O3vTYE3FVT
— Louisville Football (@LouisvilleFB) November 19, 2021

Cooley would play in 12 games (232 snaps) for Louisville as a true freshman. The tailback finished his first season with 86 carries for 431 yards and 12 receptions for 173 yards for a Louisville team that ended the season with a loss to Air Force in the First Responder Bowl.

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As a true sophomore, Cooley would finish the season with 59 carries for 278 yards to go along with nine receptions. The tailback missed the final five games of the season and decided to enter the transfer portal in November. Satterfield would bounce to Cincinnati just a week later.

Two years at Georgia Tech

Trey Cooley left Louisville and stayed in the ACC. The tailback transferred to Georgia to play for new head coach Brent Key and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner. Cooley played in 12 games (185 snaps) as a true junior in 2023. The tailback finished the season with 64 carries for 274 yards. Cooley also chipped in 11 receptions for 112 yards.

Cooley returned for his senior season in 2024 but only played in two games for the Yellow Jackets. The veteran suffered an undisclosed injury in Georgia Tech’s Week Zero victory over Florida State in Ireland. That allowed the tailback to preserve a redshirt and maintain one year of eligibility to use in 2025.

Luckett’s scouting notebook

Kentucky currently has just four scholarship tailbacks on the roster. Depth at the position is a worry entering the 2025 campaign. Trey Cooley could give offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan and running backs coach Jay Boulware an experienced veteran at the position with two-way ability.

This is my scouting write-up on the former ACC tailback.

Trey Cooley (5-10, 205) is a veteran tailback with 248 career touches, 1,364 scrimmage yards, and 10 touchdowns. Durability has been an issue at separate times during his career. Over 60 percent of his career rushes came via zone concepts. Runs with good pad level and can stick his foot in the ground on vertical cuts to gain yards by getting his shoulders square. Ball security (5 career fumbles) has been a occasional problem. Does a good job running through contact and collecting some tough yards. Owns a career 15.3 percent explosive run rate. More than capable receiver on wheels and checkdowns. Held up well in protection against Miami in 2024.

The two-time transfer is a true zone runner who could help elevate a concept that Kentucky used more frequently in 2023. Adds some value as a pass catcher. Experienced tailback who has proven to be a quality rotation player in a power conference offense.