Amari Cooper: What Will His Part Be In SEC History?

Heisman finalist. Heisman award winner. Biletnikoff award winner. These are all things that may be within reach of Alabama receiver Amari Cooper.

Cooper is causing shock waves across the country, and is in shape to make some SEC history at the end of the season. Let’s take a look at his stats thus far in the season with eight games still to go.

		Receiving
Year	School	Conf	Class	Pos	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
*2012	Alabama	SEC	JR	WR	14	59	1000	16.9	11
*2013	Alabama	SEC	JR	WR	11	45	736	16.4	4
2014	Alabama	SEC	JR	WR	4	43	655	15.2	5
Career	Alabama					147	2391	16.3	20

All records listed are since 1956

SEC Receptions Records

Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews leads the SEC in single season receptions with 112 during the 2013 season. It will be tough for Cooper to catch him but not at all impossible. With Cooper having 43 receptions so far, he would need to average almost nine catches a game to take the lead. They do figure in post season games as well so that average dips a bit especially with the possibility of playing at least three more games.

Even though first place in would be an impressive feat, second place in the standings won’t be as difficult. Keith Edwards hauled in 97 catches for the Commodores in 1983. Just using the regular season of eight games, he would need to average 6.75 catches a game.

The task to take over the career reception record for the conference will be a tougher feat. The aforementioned Jordan Matthews holds the top spot 262 catches in his four years in Nashville, TN. That is one of things that may hurt Cooper. A lot of these guys have four years at their schools when Cooper may only have three before he decides to enter the NFL Draft. Nothing is set in stone about the draft, but it’s the more than likely scenario.

To take over the top spot, Cooper would need to average just over 14 catches a game, and that’s just not feasible. However if Cooper can average six catches a game till the end of the season, that should be enough to land him at fifth place. Pretty impressive when you figure that all but one in the top ten recorded stats for four years.

SEC Receiving Yards Records

For Cooper to break into the top 50 for receiving yards in a season, he would just need to average 57.75 yards a game to get him on the list with a total of 1117 yards. If Cooper kept producing the phenomenal pace of averaging 166 yards a game like he has thus far, he would take over the top spot with just over 1900 yards. With SEC play already going, that will almost be impossible. If he can maintain an 80 yard per game pace, that would be enough to get him in the top 10 with 442 yards separating one through ten. There is definitely some room to improve on the top 10 projection.

With what Cooper has done thus far in two seasons and four extra games, he already has enough grab the 31st spot on the career receiving yards record. A 124 yard per game production for the eight remaining games plus three extra if the Tide was to go that far, would put him in first at 3,759 yards. Georgia’s Terrence Edwards’ second place spot with 3,093 is more attainable and would only need an average of 87.75 yards a game.

Sep 20, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) catches a pass for a touchdown as Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves (1) defends at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

SEC Receiving Touchdown Records

Cooper already sits at number 22 for single season touchdowns with his 11 catches he hauled in during the 2012 season. Florida’s Reidel Anthony leads the list with 18 touchdowns from the 1996 season. To take over that spot, he would have to average 1.6 touchdowns a game. Cooper gets a lot of targets and is averaging close to that now but you have to remember. Alabama is now in conference play with some tough defenses so it may be tough sledding for the rest of the year.

With his 20 touchdowns that he has scored while at Alabama, that’s enough to put him at number 31 on the career touchdown list. Only 11 spots separate number 31 and the top spot so he definitely has room to move up.

Keep in mind these are just projections. Cooper may get close to the averages and then again, he may not. We just never know what will happen in the future. It was a fun article to research just to see where he stands now and where he could stand after his career at Alabama is finished.

Let’s just sit back, relax and watch history being made. I believe at the end of the season, we will see Amari Cooper on quite a few of these record lists as well as accepting a few awards at the end of the season. It’s a great time to be a fan of the Crimson Tide.

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