Alabama’s Amari Cooper claimed “best receiver in the SEC” this season, but the title of the SEC’s most versatile weapon went to a different Cooper.
South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper joined Amari on the All-SEC first team at season’s end, but the two went about their business in different ways.
Amari led the nation in receptions and was second in the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns, winning the Biletnikoff Award in the process. Pharoh was second in the SEC in receiving in addition to rushing for more than 200 yards at better than 7.0 yards per carry. He led all non-quarterbacks in passing by completing 5 of 8 pass attempts for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and also finished the year ranked in the top 10 in the conference among punt returners.
Amari will take his talents to the NFL, where he’ll be a first-round pick April 30. Pharoh, a sophomore, must return for one more year at South Carolina before he can make the same leap.
It’s not much of a hot take to say Pharoh Cooper can lead the SEC in receiving in 2015. He was already No. 2 in the category this season and No. 1 is going pro. But fans can expect so much more out of the conference’s top returning wideout in 2015 — he’s just not going to do it the way Amari did.
Pharoh ignites the South Carolina offense. He’s as difficult to cover as any wideout in the conference, relying on his speed and excellent route-running to create space against any coverages he may face. He resembles Amari in that regard.
But defenses also must concern themselves with Pharoh as a runner or even as a passer. Pharoh’s diverse skills will keep defenses in conflict whenever and allow the Gamecocks to use him however they want based on the situation.
There will be opportunities for Pharoh to match Amari’s numbers in 2015. He’s the only player among South Carolina’s top-five receivers returning to Columbia next fall. He’ll be the focal point of the offense.
With another offseason, Pharoh may be even more dynamic than he was this year when he posted more than 1,400 yards from scrimmage. Pharoh may not amass as many receiving yards or touchdowns as Amari in ’14, but he’s likely to touch the ball at least as often.
The biggest obstacle standing between Pharoh and national superstardom is the lack of a supporting cast. South Carolina can counter blanket coverage on Cooper with reverses, end-arounds, option passes and other unique looks few other players can pull off. The Gamecocks haven’t settled on a starting quarterback next season, and the offense lacks a dynamic No. 2 option to make Pharoh’s brilliance worthwhile.
He may still hit stellar numbers, but without depth to the offense those numbers may all be for naught. Even another 1,000-yard season would be overlooked by the national audience if South Carolina loses six or more games once again.
It’s been less than a week since Amari’s college career reached its conclusion with a loss to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, and his brilliance is still fresh in our minds. It’s difficult to picture another player matching what he achieved, but Pharoh capable of the same sensational season.
Amari racked up 1,700 yards through the air in 2014. Pharoh has a chance to clear 1,000 yards for the second year in a row (something Amari never did), rush for more than 300 yards and throw for more than 200 yards — with a few touchdowns of each variety sprinkled in.
It may look different, but expect a Cooper to be the SEC’s most productive receiver again in 2015.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
