Khiry Cooper - Carl Crawford or Darin Erstad?
2 comments so far
June 9, 2008 by
Every once in a while, an athlete is lucky enough to be gifted in multiple sports. Unless they are a truly rare and special talent (see Jackson, Bo), they more often than not end up picking one for their professional career. This brings us to the case of Khiry Cooper, an NU football recruit for 2008 as a wide receiver who also is talented enough on the baseball diamond to be drafted by the Los Angeles Angels organization. So, Cooper faces a choice between college football and professional baseball. For Husker fans, the situation is reminicant of a few other fairly recent Husker football prospects.
Cooper's Options
According to the Lincoln Journal Star, Cooper had not yet made a choice as recently as Monday evening. He was checking all the right boxes, so to speak, and keeping his options open. If he chooses to enroll at NU, he could play both sports as an amateur. Or he could sign with the Angels organization, most likely getting a six-figure signing bonus.
Selfishly, I admit that I would love to see Cooper in a Husker uniform. He's a quality prospect at a skill position. He was well regarded as a high school player in Louisiana, and he was one of the latest additions to Bo Pelini's first classes. He sort of served as early proof that the coach knew how to source players out of that talent-rich state.
On the other hand, who can blame the kid for wanting to go the baseball route? He went in the fifth round, which is kind of a big deal since the MLB draft selects more than 1000 players. He could very likely get $100,000 or more just to sign his name in ink. And, while minor league baseball is a grind, it lacks the risks and physical demand that football creates. And, he could pursue football after baseball if the career on the diamond doesn't pan out. Many NCAA football players have come out of minor league baseball.
Heartbreak Hotel...Or Best of Both Worlds?
Pathetic as it sounds, Carl Crawford broke my heart a little. Crawford, a second round MLB pick choose baseball over being a member of NU's 1999 recruiting class. Right now, Crawford is having a nice career since reaching the big leagues in 2002. While NU had another QB, Jammal Lord, in that 1999 class every time I see Crawford do something highlight worthy on TV I can't help but think..."man, that guy could have been a great option quarterback." I wonder if Frank Solich ever wonders the same thing.
Still, Cooper doesn't have to go that route. He could come to NU and get the best of both worlds, like former Husker and current Major League player Darin Erstad did. Was a punter in football, so his best professional paycheck option was baseball all the way. Though, he was not has highly regarded as Cooper coming out of high school. On the plus side for Cooper, NU's profile in baseball has improved greatly in the last ten years. So, the amount of quality coaching and exposure he'll get as a Husker baseball player would very likely be better than what Erstad received.
So, which will it be for Cooper - the Erstad route or the Crawford way? I don't think the kid can really go wrong by choosing either. Though, I know which one I would prefer.
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doombob Jun 10 08
I don't think Cooper will be much like either of those two. I think that Dixon at Oregon is a better example of what he might do.
Twoface Oct 13 08
This guy is outstanding. As a sophmore last year, I was finally given faith during the second half of the season to pitch for Loyola College Prep, a division rival. We ended up playing them three times and I was busy scouting them out. You don't see him miss plays, he hits gap to gap, and he is a smart runner. Good luck to him at Nebraska, he will make you proud.