Several members of Alabama’s coaching staff made the trek from Tuscaloosa to south Florida on Thursday. One of the players that the coaching staff visited with is 2026 four-star running back Derrek Cooper.
On Friday, Cooper thanked the coaching staff on X for stopping by his high school to speak with him.
Cooper is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound running back out of Chaminade-Madonna College Prepatory School in Hollywood, Florida. As a junior, Cooper had 124 carries for 906 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Last week, Cooper was visited by Alabama running back coach Robert Gillespie. This time around Kalen DeBoer, wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, general manager Courtney Morgan, and Gillespie visited Cooper’s school.
Cooper is a player that the coaching staff is high on. In a past interview with Touchdown Alabama, Cooper mentioned that the Crimson Tide would ‘100 percent’ get hit m to Tuscaloosa for an official visit.
The Florida native is in favor of Alabama’s offense and how it uses its running backs.
“They use their running backs a lot,” said Cooper. “I think I fit in their offense pretty well, fit in their scheme. They’re definitely one of my top schools.”
In the last two weeks, coaches from Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida State, and Georgia have visited with Cooper. If Alabama is able to get Cooper on campus, it could certainly play in the Crimson Tide’s favor.
He will be on a priority recruit for Alabama moving forward. The coaching staff will work with Cooper to set up a date for him to take his official visit. Until then, the coaching staff will continue to be in communication with Cooper.
Watch Cooper’s Highlights Below:
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
