July 7, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. ââ’¬” For the second time in as many days, South Carolina junior wide receiver Pharoh Cooper has earned a spot on a preseason watch list for a national award, this time for the 79th annual Maxwell Award. The award has recognized the national player of the year since 1937, and Cooper is one of just 80 players to make the preseason list.

The Havelock, N.C. native exploded on to the scene and into the program record books as a sophomore, earning first-team All-SEC honors for his efforts. As one of the few triple threats in the nation, Cooper has rushed for 402 yards, tallied 107 passing yards, and had 1,190 receiving yards, 359 kickoff return yards and 115 punt return yards in his blossoming career. He stands as one of 11 wide receivers that made the Maxwell’s watch list for the upcoming season.

For 2014, Cooper hauled in the third-most receiving yards in a single season in school history and the sixth-most catches and receiving touchdowns. One of his many highlights was a wild night at Williams-Brice, when he set the single-game school record with 233 receiving yards, threw a 30-yard touchdown to Brandon Wilds and ran for another score against Tennessee.

The team will kick off the 2015 season in less than two months, with a game against North Carolina on Sept. 3 in Charlotte, N.C. that will also air on ESPN.

The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937. Maxwell’s contributions to the game of football were extensive, including time as a player, a sportswriter and an official.