Lucas Cooper

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Photo by: Tony Harman

Photo by: Maggie Still

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
5-10
Weight:
180
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Palos Verdes, Calif.
High School:
Palos Verdes

Updated Nov. 30, 2019

This Season (Sr.):

Has played in the last seven games after missing the first four due to injury, all seven on special teams and one on defense.
Played 15 special teams snaps against USC (six on kickoff return and four on FG/PAT) and recorded one assisted tackle on kickoff.
Played three defensive snaps against Washington State and recorded one unassisted tackle. He also played 15 special teams snaps (eight on kickoff return, three on kickoff, and four on punt return).
Played 10 special teams snaps against Oregon (eight on kickoff return and two on kickoff) and recorded one assisted tackle on kickoff.
Saw first action of the season against Arizona (10/5) and recorded one unassisted tackle and one touchdown save on kickoff coverage.
Missed the first four games of the season due to injury.
Likely figures to be a key contributor on special teams again.
CU's official nominee and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, otherwise known as the Academic Heisman.

2018 (Jr.)—Named to the Colorado Chapter of the National Football Foundation All-Academic first team and was honorable mention on the Pac-12 All-Academic team … Played in the first eight games of the season before missing the final four due to injury … Played two games on defense with four plays … Had five specials teams points on the season with four tackles, including one inside the 20.

2017 (Soph.)—He appeared on defense in two games, but primarily saw action on special teams where he saw the field in 11 contests … On defense, he saw 13 plays from scrimmage and forced a fumble in the win over Texas State in the first action of his career … On special teams, he was credited with four points on the backing of one assisted tackle, two knockdown or springing blocks on kick returns and was credited with being the first down field on a kickoff or punt that altered the return path once.

2016 (Fr.-RS)—He was the recipient of the Defensive Scout Player of the Year award ... He played in six games and dressed for the remaining other seven games ... Seeing action mainly on special teams, he was credited with two tackles (one in the Idaho State game, the other against Oregon State) ... He had an interception in the spring game.

2015 (Fr.)—Redshirted; did not see game cation … Practiced all season at defensive back … Joined the team as a recruited walk-on just prior to the start of August camp.

HIGH SCHOOL—As a senior, he was a first-team All-Area performer at defensive back, along with earning first-team All-CIF Southern Section and All-Bay League honors for a second straight season (he was second-team All-Area as a junior, when he was Palos Verdes defensive player of the year) ... At his strong safety position, he was in on a team-high 130 tackles (83 solo, three for losses), with eight passes broken up and an interception ... He had seven games with 10 or more tackles, including a career-high 22 (13 unassisted) in a 37-12 win over Inglewood ... On offense, he had three rushes for 26 yards, and on special teams, he returned two kickoffs, also for 26 yards ... As a junior, he recorded 105 tackles, second-most on the team (63 solo, one for a loss), with eight pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble and a recovery which he returned for a touchdown ... Had double-figure tackles on five occasions, including a high of 14 twice (against Dominguez and Righetti) ... Offensively, he caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown (long of 34) ... Under coach Guy Gardner, Palos Verdes was 11-3 is senior season, winning the CIF Southern Section Western Division title, 9-3 his junior year and 11-3 his sophomore campaign (claiming the CIFSS Northern Division crown) ... He was on an undefeated freshman team (10-0) and called up to the varsity for the playoffs and thus was a member of the four-time Bay League champion team (PVHS was 15-0 in league play when he was on the varsity) ... He also lettered four years in basketball, with per game averages as a senior of 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals ... He was a captain of both the football and basketball teams his senior year, when he was Palos Verdes’ Athlete of the Year.

ACADEMICS—He is majoring in Strategic Communications at Colorado and is seeking a Business minor as well ... He has garnered three first-team Academic All-Colorado honors from the state’s NFF chapter ... Twice named as an honorable mention selection on the Pac-12 All-Academic squads (2017, 2018) … In high school, he was a frequent member of the Principal’s Honor Roll ... He has aspirations of working in the front office for a professional sports team after college.

PERSONAL—He was born on September 5, 1997 in Los Angeles, Calif. … His hobbies include playing basketball, video games (FIFA in particular), going to the beach and doing charity work ... A cousin, Tori Cooper, completed her career in 2014 as a member of CU’s women’s soccer team.