Cooper to UCA

Cooper to UCA

AWM grad ticket-ed for Conway

WM School District The change of coaching staffs at the University of Memphis just wasn't a fit for Jarvis Cooper, so after announcing he was going to transfer, he said this week he's headed to the University of Central Arkansas.

Cooper, the former West Memphis Blue Devil, got caught in the numbers game at the U of M after the school hired former Arizona State University assistant coach Mike Norvel to take over for former Tiger head coach Justin Fuente, who was hired in December as the head coach at Virginia Tech.

Cooper, who flashed brilliance in two seasons as a Tiger in the offensive backfield, will be immediately eligible at UCA and he has a chance to be a featured back for the Bears in 2016.

'I loved it at Memphis,' Cooper said. 'I got some good exposure and played on some good teams. Plus, we played against some really good competition like Ole Miss and Cincinnati.'

Cooper said the decision was bittersweet.

'I'm not satisfied with my time at Memphis, but I'm happy about it,' he added.

Cooper, at 6-1 and 245 pounds, rushed for a total of 767 yards in two seasons at Memphis with 9 touchdowns. Last year, Cooper rushed for 399 yards and 5 TDs. He rushed for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns in his freshman debut in the 2014 season opener against Austin Peay.

'That was the game that made me feel like I can do this,' said Cooper. 'It made me feel like I can hang with the big dogs.'

Cooper was simply a victim of the Tigers' crowded backfield with last year's leading rusher, Doroland Dorceus and other returnees Sam Craft and rising sophomore Jamarius Henderson.

Norvell has publicly said he wants to rely heavily on a wide-open passing attack, thus the opportunity to be a featured running back is less than likely.

But Cooper said he is excited about the prospects of playing for the Bears, who finished 7-4 overall, winning four of their final seven games.

'(UCA) is in Arkansas and I'm from Arkansas,' said Cooper, who chose UCA over Tennessee-Martin. 'I loved the campus when I visited there. They love to run the football and that's one of the main reasons I'm going there.'

At UCA, Cooper will be reunited with one of his old teammates in high school, Cody Dauksch, who is an H-back on offense for the Bears. That's another key reason for Cooper choosing UCA.

'It's going to be awesome playing with Cody again,' said Cooper. 'I told him on my visit that I was leaning toward signing with (UCA) and Cody got real fired up. He was like, 'Hey man, come on down here! We need you.''

By Billy Woods