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Cooper has had an on-field presence for the Irish since his freshman year, with 13 starts scattered over three seasons. This year, Notre Dame can't afford to leave him on the sideline, with last year's starter Tony Driver moving to tailback and starting cornerback Brock Williams suspended for the season.
Despite his limited role to date, Cooper has carved out a niche as the big playmaker in Notre Dame's secondary. In 1998, Cooper forced three fumbles, including running back a 96-yard return as a fill-in starter against Michigan State.
Cooper's biggest play to date, though, came in a backup role. In a nationally televised game last Nov. 7 against Boston College, the Irish led 31-26 when BC drove to the goal line in the closing seconds. On fourth down with six seconds left, star Eagles back Mike Cloud took the handoff and tried to run around the left end only to be met head on and stuffed by Cooper.
It will be cover-by-committee this season in Notre Dame's thinning secondary. Deveron Harper, a former safety, is the only sure thing at cornerback, and A'Jani Sanders claims the strong safety spot, but Bob Davie will rely upon several untested players after that, including true freshman Gerome Sapp. For the Irish to form an imposing defense, Cooper will need to build on the momentum of his Boston College moment and turn into the secondary's clear anchor.
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