Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 81 Days (Gary Cooper)

Written by Nathan Comp

The Hoosier Huddle countdown to kickoff has begun! 81 days remain until the Hoosiers kickoff the 2020 season at Camp Randall Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers. Today, we’ll highlight second-year freshman tight end Gary Cooper.

Gary Cooper (Redshirt Freshman)

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 235 Pounds

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Position: Tight End

Injuries in fall camp limited Gary Cooper’s potential production in his freshman campaign but he was still able to see action in four games before redshirting his first year with the Hoosiers. In those four contests, Cooper was able to catch two passes for 15 yards, a long of 13 in the win against Northwestern. A 3-star prospect ranked the #13 hybrid tight end nationally by ESPN out of high school, Cooper is best known for his speed.

"I think my route running stands out," he says. "I know I'm big, but I'm different. I run my routes like I'm skinny. People think I'm slow, but I'm fast. They'll be surprised at the stuff I can do," said Cooper prior to his first season.

“His skill set is probably totally different than anybody else in the room just because of the speed factor,” tight ends coach Kevin Wright said of Cooper. “In testing I think he was one of the top four or five guys on our team in regards to speed. He's not quite as big, but I think with quickness and speed, it helps make him a different type of player that we can plug and play with.”

Coach Wright continues to build depth at the tight end position, but Cooper projects as a player that if healthy would certainly see more game action in his second year.