L INCOLN — It would be hard for Aaron Peppers to imagine any Nebraska football newcomer being more excited about his pending arrival than Corey Cooper.
Cooper has been talking incessantly about NU since signing in February, according to Peppers, his former coach at Proviso East High in Maywood, Ill.
Cooper has been wearing Husker shirts and hats, and Peppers said the Cooper family was decked out in red and white for his recent graduation party.
But, most important, Cooper has been working out with a businesslike attitude that should keep the shock or surprises to a minimum when Nebraska starts its summer conditioning program Monday.
“On a scale of one to 10, he's a 25,” Peppers said. “He's bleeding Cornhusker red already.
“It'll be a joy to him. He enjoys working out. He's ready. He's been ready for years for this.”
The 6-foot-2, 202-pound safety will be among those coming to campus this weekend. Along with workouts, Cooper will be taking two classes during the first session of summer school.
Peppers said Cooper already understands the discipline it will take, partly from his father, Corey Sr., who is a police officer and former Purdue cornerback who played with Rod Woodson and Jim Everett. And partly from Peppers, by day a patrolman for the Maywood police department.
Other help came from spending time with former Proviso East players who would return to the school to work out.
“I always sit them down before they leave and just let them know that when you play college football, you become a machine,” Peppers said. “All the other kids on campus are partying and having a good time, and you've got morning lifts and morning runs. Yeah, you've got a scholarship and it's worth this many dollars or that many dollars, but understand they're going to get it from you. If you're not ready, this might not be for you.
“Kids call back all the time and say, ‘Man, Coach, you weren't playing.' ”
Cooper has been following a Husker workout regimen since making the last-minute decision to sign with NU. He goes over his Husker playbook in his free time and calls assistant coach Marvin Sanders about once a week. He met some future teammates at the spring game, including Kenny Bell and Ciante Evans.
“I really don't know how much more I can do,” Cooper said. “I just feel I'm prepared to go away on my own and do what I've got to do.
“It's something I've been waiting on for a while. It's finally getting here. I'm ready for it.”
Cooper decided not to run track as a senior but still did some of the warmups and training with the team. But his commitment to lifting, Peppers said, is what you notice first.
“I mean, he's cut,” Peppers said. “I scare him all the time by telling him, ‘They're going to make you a 'backer. Eventually, I'm just letting you know, you're going to be one of the fastest outside linebackers on the field.' He don't like hearing that, at least right now.”
Cooper was ranked as the No. 4 prospect out of Illinois in the 2010 signing class. As a senior, he made 70 tackles with two interceptions and 16 pass breakups, while also catching 43 passes for 852 yards and nine TDs.
NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini has said the intent will be to redshirt all the freshman newcomers on defense next season, but Cooper hasn't let that affect how he's prepared.
Some friends will be out having fun this summer, but he'll keep his mind on what he's doing instead of what he's missing.
“This is what I signed up for, so it's not hard to go there early and get used to what's going to help me when the season starts,” Cooper said. “It's just barbecues and parties, but that's cool.”
Contact the writer:
444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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