Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

Cooper was a visitor for Clemson's spring game earlier this month

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Apr 22 09:33:22 GMT-04:00 2015

Late spring is usually the only break from the daily football grind, but for Zerrick Cooper Zerrick Cooper
Quarterback
6-5, 200
Jonesboro, GA
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The 4-star 2016 quarterback and Clemson commit is keeping busy with rehabbing a torn ACL and trying to get back into playing shape, while also attending a few special events over the next couple of months.

Cooper told TigerNet Monday night that while he’s working hard, he’s also taken a few visits with teammates – the latest to Mississippi St.– but that Clemson fans shouldn’t be worried.

“It's been great. I took a visit to Mississippi State over the weekend but that's nothing to brag about,” Cooper told TigerNet earlier this week. “I'm still committed to Clemson. I've been working really hard this spring - working with my teammates on and off the field. I just take all of the offers as a compliment that people recognize my talent, but I'm still solid on Clemson. I'm just taking my time and being happy with Clemson.”

Earlier in the spring, Cooper participated in Nike’s The Opening in Buford, Georgia but he’s thinking about making an appearance at the Charlotte camp just to work with Trent Dilfer and the other quarterback coaches one more time.

“He [Dilfer] told me that he wanted to see me one more time before he invited me to The Opening,” Cooper said. “May 9th is the next camp in Charlotte and he told me that he wanted me to come, so he can get one of the best quarterback coaches to work me out. He wants to evaluate me one more time.”

Later this summer, Cooper will get to work with one of his idols – Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

“It came about because he will be here in conjunction with an all star game, so I'll get to play with him in 7-on-7,” Cooper said. “It's great because Cam is my favorite quarterback. Being able to learn from him is a dream come true, actually.”

No matter how busy his schedule gets, however, Cooper always keeps his appointment with Clemson quarterback coach Brandon StreeterBrandon Streeter
Quarterback Coach
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“It's coming along good. We talk every Monday at 9 p.m. We have a schedule. I look forward to going up June 8th-10th to work out with him during the camp, so I get a chance to see how he coaches in drills,” he said.

Cooper’s busy schedule is kept in balance by his parents, who are a constant source of strength for their son.

“They've been an amazing help through this process,” he said. “I can talk to them about anything and everything that I have trouble with and they will tell me what they think or if I need to do something. They take a lot of stress off of me with just being able to talk to them about anything.”