LINCOLN — Khiry Cooper sort of shrugs off the notion.
Could football be affecting his baseball? Or vice versa?
Not if you ask the talented sophomore.
“I've kind of grown into it,” Cooper said of splitting his time between the two sports, “and it's kind of just the routine I know.''
Cooper, a fifth-round draft pick of the Anaheim Angels in 2008, spent the majority of his weekends this summer playing with the Junction City (Kan.) Generals, a team in the woodbat M.I.N.K. League.
He would get his football work done during the week, then spend Friday, Saturday and sometimes Sunday on a baseball diamond.
It was a different schedule than the one he kept during his first two summers at NU when football was the sole focus.
“I think it was a good thing for me,'' Cooper said. “I was able to get some ABs and stuff, but I was also able to be here in Lincoln and maintain football.''
Cooper was asked about all those trips down Highway 77 by reporters last week. In true receivers fashion he said he got there a little quicker than he probably should have. Cooper estimated it as a two and a half-hour drive.
“But you can make it in two,'' he said, laughing.
Husker receivers coach Ted Gilmore hopes Cooper's catch-up process is even faster. Gilmore said only extra work will keep Cooper up to speed. Spring practices go a long way for the timing and physicality of the wideouts, and playing baseball rarely helps either of those.
“He's still behind consistently, because obviously when he's hitting that low ball, he's missing a lot of work in the spring,'' Gilmore said. “That's just the nature of it. He knows he's just got to put in extra time to learn the system, because the things he missed in the spring are when you have a chance to get your feet on the ground a little more and get more physical.''
If 2009 was any indication, Cooper will get himself ready. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Shreveport, La., native finished last season with 13 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. He caught three passes in three different games and found the end zone against Texas Tech.
A taste of success also brought some confidence, Cooper said. Scoring in a Big 12 game made him realize he could play at a high level.
But it's not enough. Cooper said he's got bigger aspirations.
“I'm trying to be an every down player,'' he said.
His biggest strength, fellow receiver Brandon Kinnie said, is his attention to detail. Kinnie said Cooper runs some of the best routes he's seen, something that's rubbed off on those around him.
“That was a big thing I looked at when I came here from the junior college ranks,'' Kinnie said. “I was an OK route-runner, but I wasn't good. I was paying attention to him. I was looking at how he detailed things.''
Contact the writer:
850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com
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