Cedrick Cooper

2015: Fifth-year senior defensive end who played in seven games, including starts in each of the first three contests… shined in the season opener, recording five tackles including three solo stops and his first career tackle for a loss against North Carolina… notched his first career sack, a 9-yard loss, at Missouri… hampered by injuries throughout his career, limiting his ability to get on the field consistently… appeared in 34 games overall, making four starts.

2014: Played in six games during an injury-plagued season… logged five tackles and two quarterback hurries… suffered a high ankle sprain versus Missouri and missed the final seven regular season games… earned his first start in the Independence Bowl win over Miami… responded with a career-high three tackles… made the transition from linebacker to defensive end during the bowl camp in 2013 and spent the spring learning the nuances of the position.

2013: Sophomore linebacker who dislocated left elbow on August 6, causing him to miss the first three games… played in each of the final 10 contests, primarily on special teams… logged five tackles, including two against Mississippi State… did not practice during the spring while recovering from a knee injury suffered in the practices leading up to the Outback Bowl game.

2012: Redshirt freshman linebacker who saw action in 11 games… used primarily on special teams… credited with one tackle… injured his knee during the Outback Bowl practices… was limited in the spring of 2012 by a lower back injury.

2011: Redshirted as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Lithonia (Ga.) High School, graduating in 2011…. logged 97 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior for a squad that went 4-6… coached by Marcus Jelks… as a junior recorded 101 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and three pass breakups… only played two seasons at linebacker… regarded as a three-star prospect, the 61st-best outside linebacker in the country and the 70th-best player in the state of Georgia by Rivals.com… considered a three-star prospect and the nation’s 45th-best outside linebacker by Scout.com… considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com… named to PrepStar’s All-Southeast Region class… selected South Carolina over NC State, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ole Miss.

PERSONAL: Cedrick M. Cooper was born November 20, 1992… graduated in May 2015 with a degree in criminal justice.