Interview: 3-Star 2021 QB Cooper Meek Updates Workouts and Recruiting
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After a 9-4 season in 2018 for Notre Dame High School, the California Division-II program had high hopes of bringing home a banner and a trophy for the display case a year ago. Hopes were high for good reason with a veteran squad and a rising junior in the pocket directing the offense. Cooper Meek (6-3, 215) was coming off a fantastic season, beyond the stats, having completed 64 percent of his attempts covering 1,570 yards with 14 touchdowns against just two picks while leading a run-heavy scheme that had chomped up over 3,000 yards. As sports has their tragic tales, just six plays into the 2019 season, someone falls the wrong way onto Meek’s leg tearing his meniscus dashing hopes for a roster looking for rings. Hope is riding high yet again on the Knights’ roster with their three-star gunslinger back on the field and a new no-huddle offense that promises to light up the scoreboard.
In an RNG catch-up interview, Meek covers ground on his injury, full recovery, and offseason workouts.
Interview
Cooper, how have your offseason workouts gone overall?
They are going really well. I am trying to get prepared for the season. Notre Dame was on and then off, and we are trying to get back again after they cancelled the season. For me this summer, it has been cardio, lifting, and cross training getting ready to play in January. Right now, as an athlete I should be doing a bunch of stuff while also doing football workouts. I have been playing Spike Ball and basketball.
Spike Ball? What is Spike Ball?
It is a game where you play with four people, two on two. There is a little ring with a net, it looks like a volleyball. You hit it on the net, it comes up, and you get three hits to get it back. You try to hit it on the net to get it away from the other team.
Let’s cover a tough subject, your injury. If you will, update us on your injury and recovery.
It was a torn meniscus in my left knee. It happened on the sixth play of first game of the season. On a read-option, as I was coming through the hole I was cutting to get out of the way and a guy fell into my knee. I felt it right away. That was my season. I went back in for a couple of series, and threw a touchdown pass on the next series. I tried to keep playing but couldn’t; I had surgery on that knee. Now I am feeling great, 100 percent. I am squatting and back to work doing everything now.
That’s great news. What have you been fine-tuning with the skill portion of your game over the summer months?
This offseason I have been working on my reads all the time. Any quarterback that can read better than the rest will be great. Right now, it is about making every throw on the field. The quarterbacks that thrive can make any throw at any time; I can hit a 15-yard out off a three-step. I am working on my movements and throws like throwing 20 yards on a dime while rolling out. I am fine-tuning my game working on making myself comfortable when in an uncomfortable situation with a clean throw every time.
Nice. How have you prepared this offseason for the physical grind of the 2020 season?
By doing a lot of lifting. I have noticed with football players that the guys grinding too much, those are the guys during the season who are more beat up and wear out. I am putting my body in a position for the grind without wearing out. We start practice in September, I am preparing for that start ready for a full go.
What are some of the things you are doing to expand your mental understanding of the game?
It has been awesome with all this free time with the quarantine. There is plenty of stuff on YouTube to watch and learn. I’ve been working with (QB) Coach Danny Hernandez. It is really cool to have him helping me, I am always in connection with him. He is always teaching me new stuff all the time. I am watching videos and tape, and learning from him.
When the new season begins, what offense will you be executing with Notre Dame?
We have a new offensive coordinator for the first time in many years, Coach Braswell. We are switching to a no-huddle/Spread. This season we will be moving the ball downfield and making plays.
Are you excited about the new offense?
Oh, definitely. With this offense, it is a new challenge that will show college coaches that I can make calls at the line, make the audible, and adjust on the fly, that is what a no-huddle and Spread is about.
As a leader of the Knights, what have you been doing to rally the guys and keep the team focused during this extended offseason?
Keeping in contact with them and checking up on them making sure they are doing their stuff to be ready. I am making sure they are going over the playbook and, because we cannot workout together, doing the stuff we are supposed to do on our own. As much as possible, I am encouraging and making sure they are on top of everything. Being at Notre Dame for four years, they respond to me and are really good at listing.
Once the season gets going, what goals have you set for yourself?
We are looking for a ring; we have been close before. I stuck it out at Notre Dame because I want banners and rings at Notre Dame. My personal goals are to be the best I can be, keep the ball off the ground, and have as many completions as possible. Records are great, but the win-loss column is the most important.
Let’s close talking about recruiting. Which schools are showing interest ahead of your senior season?
The main schools showing interest are Brown, talking to them a lot, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale.
Which schools have offered?
William & Mary and Lake Erie.
Before the extended dead period hit in March, did you get to take any visits?
Yes. I went to Junior Day at Pennsylvania and a Junior Day at Brown. Those were in February, right before COVID took off.
How did the visit to UPenn go?
It went really well. They showed us the whole campus and all the facilities; that was my second time there. Everything was world class there. They have a great facility, a great football program and the school is scholarly.
And the Brown visit?
The same thing, it went really well. I got a one-on-one meeting with coaches and their head coach. They were very hospitable throughout the visit. I am hoping Brown and I can get an offer figured out at some point.
Once visits are allowed again, do you have any you’d like to take?
Yes, I would like to visit more of the Pac-12 schools. I have talked to some of them. I have been to USC and UCLA, I would like to see Oregon, Utah, and Colorado as well.
Cooper, always great spending time with you. I am happy to hear you are back 100 percent healthy and ready for a big senior season.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Meek family; Cooper Meek at UPenn (Feb. 2020)