Clemson Football 2017: Predicting the Quarterback Situation

The Competitors: Zerrick Cooper

• Zerrick Cooper: 6-2, 219 lbs, Redshirt Freshman

The one everybody forgets about.

Zerrick Cooper is quietly making a name for himself with the coaches under the radar. He has pretty good accuracy and is fairly athletic, but his greatest asset is his arm strength.

Cooper, in my opinion, has the strongest arm of all the quarterbacks.

I remember watching him in warmups during several Clemson football games last season and just being amazed at the zip he put on the ball. As a matter of fact, his spiral looked to be thrown harder than Deshaun Watson’s.

I think a lot of people are discounting Cooper far too early and he very well may have a shot to make a name for himself before it’s all said and done.

What would the offense look like?

If Zerrick Cooper was to become the starting quarterback, the offense would be based on his dynamic arm strength.

Deon Cain and Tee Higgins would be happy to see Cooper back there as he would look to throw the ball deep down the field, not that Johnson and Bryant wouldn’t.

Cooper is a very balanced player and I’d expect the offense to look almost identical to that of last season under Deshaun Watson. The coaches will allow his 219 pound frame to run the ball in the read-option game and will look for him to get the ball out to play-makers as well.