JACK of all trades: Ty Cooper feeling at home in new role
In a college football world of the transfer portal and NIL, Ty Cooper just wants to play ball.
The Louisville native got an opportunity to play SEC football just up the road from his hometown and he’s taken advantage. State coaches have asked him to play multiple positions in his first three years; including lining up at tight end for a spell last year.
Under new head coach Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Coleman Hutzler, Cooper believes that he has found his spot at the Jack linebacker position. His goal is to make life miserable on the opposing offense and its quarterback.
“I feel like I’ve got my groove back,” Cooper said of his new role. “The new staff really trusts me and are putting me in places where I can make plays. We’ve got some great guys at the position and go at it every day. We push each other to get better.”
Along with Cooper at the Jack spot will be returning pass rusher Donterry Russell. Transfer Branden Jennings is another player that is going to be a difference maker at the position and Cooper has already been impressed by his skill level.
The group as a whole is part of a defensive unit that hasn’t gotten many headlines, but they’ve held their own at practice. It’s made for some hard-hitting days in the first two weeks of practice but so far, so good on the bodies.
“We’re feeling pretty good,” Cooper said. “We have mandatory treatment three times a day so they’re making sure that our body gets right and we’re taking care of ourselves outside of practice. Everything has been going really good.”
In the first three seasons, Cooper has had some good moments. He came to Starkville as an addition in the second signing session after leading the Louisville Wildcats to the 2020 state championship.
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In high school, Cooper was a force. He made 211 career tackles, 66.0 TFL and 22.0 sacks including 112 tackles and an incredible 40.0 TFL and 12.0 sacks last season. Cooper was used more than expected as a true freshman in 2021 but redshirted his second season on campus as he had 13 combined tackles and 1.0 TFL during those 11 games.
Last season he played in all 12 games and had 13 tackles and he’s looking for more this year. The goal for the Mississippi native has been to be a better vocal leader this season and he’s accomplishing that.
It’s all about iron sharpening iron for Cooper and the Bulldogs. The offense has challenged him and his crew has put a charge in Lebby’s unit. He’s been impressed to this point and he believes it’s only going to make his defensive teammates better.
“Mario Craver, Stonka Burnside, (Kevin Coleman), Blake (Shapen), all the running backs – pretty much everybody is looking good on offense. We’re going to be a really explosive and really fast offense,” Cooper said. “It makes us think faster, move faster and play harder. It helps with all the processing and being able to fly around.
“We’ve got a lot of aggression. We’re playing downhill and are going to bring it to whoever.”
