The Missouri Tigers landed former Ohio State transfer wide receiver Mookie Cooper Tuesday afternoon when Cooper announced his decision to transfer back home to Missouri on Twitter.
Cooper was a top-100 recruit in the class of 2020 out of Trinity Catholic high school in Saint Louis. Cooper initially committed to Texas very early in the process before backing off that pledge and eventually signing with Ohio State. Cooper, a four-star recruit, did not record a single catch as a freshman at Ohio State and likely saw the writing on the wall as Ohio State was bringing in several more elite receiver recruits in its 2021 class including No.1 prospect at the position in Emeka Egbuka. It's also speculated Cooper just wanted to be closer to home which would make sense.
As soon as Cooper hit the portal, many assumed Missouri would be interested and sure enough, they pursued him hard as soon as he was in. Eli Drinkwitz stressed about the team needing to add talent to close the gap, especially at receiver, and Cooper will help in doing just that.
Cooper is a do-it-all receiver who can catch and take handoffs. He also has incredible speed which will help even more in taking the top off of defenses and give Mizzou a true scoring threat or homerun threat outside of Tyler Badie. Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline had good things to say about Cooper back during the spring. “Mookie is a smaller guy, but he’s really stocky,” said Hartline. Hartline also added, “When he goes to block, he tries to knock you out — that’s one of the biggest things I loved about him. He can do stuff from the speed sweeps to plays down the field, and he does a lot. He played a little more running back than receiver at times, and there might be a transition there". So it sounds like the Tigers will be getting an up-and-coming stud in Cooper who didn't quite fit in at Ohio State.
This is a huge get for Drinkwitz and the program not just because of the talent added but because of the momentum. Cooper is a local kid and someone who will only add to the trend of Saint Louis prospects choosing Mizzou. Just over the last few months Missouri has landed guys like Dominic Lovett, Tyler Hibbler, Taj Butts, Mekhi Wingo, Tyler Macon, Travion Ford, Isaac Thompson, and now Mookie Cooper. Maybe those names could help in landing another elite Saint Louis prospect like Luther Burden. Regardless, Cooper is a massive get. That gives Missouri Dominic Lovett and Mookie Cooper as its big wide receiver additions for the class. Two four-star Saint Louis guys. That'll do Drinkwitz, that'll do.
Cooper will be able to play next season with the new no-penalty transfer rule going into affect and Cooper will still have four years of eligibility with the Tigers.