UM freshman's hair, fleet feet make early impression
By Omar Kelly
March 30 2007
CORAL GABLES – Graig Cooper is trying his best to fit in with his new University of Miami teammates, but the highly touted freshman tailback can't help but stand out.
For one thing, he's the only Hurricane freshman with dreadlocks, which is unprecedented considering it's a long-standing tradition for UM's newcomers to have their heads shaved.
Since Cooper showed up a semester later than he signed after having to attend prep school in the fall, the team's veterans haven't gotten around to his rite of passage yet. But he knows it's coming.
More importantly, Cooper's performance this spring has been so impressive new offensive coordinator Patrick Nix admits he's already working on special plays and formations to take advantage of Cooper's skills. He is being compared to former UM standout Devin Hester because of his ability to accelerate.
"That boy right there is explosive," defensive end Calais Campbell said of Tennessee's Mr. Football in 2005. Cooper's skills will be on display tonight at UM's open practice at Traz Powell Stadium.
"He's definitely a special guy," said projected starting tailback Javarris James, who seems excited about sharing the backfield with Cooper.
"He goes from zero to five fast. He's got that good explosion and excellent hands. We've already got sets where he's going to line up at receiver."
Cooper says having to attend prep school was humbling but has helped him mature. He said his focus is to make sure he takes care of academics, learns Miami's new offense and gains the trust of his teammates and coaches.
"This is a lot different from high school. I just have to learn a lot of the small things," said Cooper, who averaged 12.5 yards a carry at Milford Prep (N.Y.) while improving his test scores and raising his grade point average to gain acceptance into UM. "In high school, you only have to learn what you have to do. In college, you have to learn what everyone's got to do."
