Marquez Cooper RB SDSU 2025 Tropical Bowl

Position Running Back
Class Senior
Ht./Wt. 5-8 / 200
Hometown Gaithersburg, MD.
Highschool Quince Orchard HS

Overall Grade

Marquez Cooper

Running Back

San Diego State

5’6 198

Draft Class: 2025

Player Profile

Strengths:

Firm base, filled out frame natural pad level to take on contact
Initial burst, speed, rapid movements
Contact balance, puts body on the line
Action initiation, timeliness, vision to plan out elusive maneuvers
Precise cuts, doesn’t cover ground laterally or overexaggerate
Can downhill in a hurry, bring a thump
Can play with tempo to climb and shoot gaps
Extremely decisive
Creates with power and some wiggle

Weaknesses:

Not much build up/acceleration post snap
Not a home run hitter

Overview:

Extremely decisive, starts with a burst, initiates action to create extra yards, and gets into space. Consistently runs with clean feet, rapid movements and timing to make players miss. Doesn’t have the long speed or build up after his initial burst but is able to shoot through gaps and transition well.

Laterally he makes sharp cuts, not wide enough to slow him down, and has the hips to be able to flash a spin move. Tons of elusiveness to his game combined with natural power having a filled out frame with shorter height than most. Sheds contact consistently and maintains his base and speed. Great vision and tempo to be able to read gaps, very effective in a zone scheme but should be able to play in both zone and gap.

Would take in the 4th round due to his ability to balance out his weaknesses and height concerns, a very well rounded back.

Scout: Andrew Bohovich

Player Bio

The NCAA active leader in rushing and all-purpose yards… Has a great ability to dodge and break tackles… A true leader on and off the field with a great work ethic.

PRIOR TO SAN DIEGO STATE
Joins the Aztecs after three years at Kent State under head coach Sean Lewis and one year at Ball State … A three-time all-MAC selection, earning first team honors in 2022 and second team honors in both 2021 and 2023 … Enters his final season as the leading rusher in FBS with 3,856 career yards … His 33 career rushing touchdowns also leads all active FBS running backs … Has 15 career 100-yard rushing games including a 240-yard performance vs. Ohio on Oct. 1, 2022 … In 2023, recorded his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,043 yards on 227 attempts scoring four touchdowns … Ran for 1,326 yards in 2022 with career best 13 touchdowns, averaging a career best 110.5 yards per game … Ran for 1,205 yards, 11 touchdowns and 86.1 yards per game as a sophomore in 2021 … As a true freshman, rushed for 282 yards and five touchdowns on 56 attempts in the COVID-shortened season … Ranks tied for fourth in Kent State history in career rushing touchdowns (29), sixth in rush yards (2,818), eighth in rush attempts (582) … In Kent State single-season history, he ranks second (285) and tied for ninth (241) in rush attempts, fifth (1,331) and ninth (1,205) in rushing yards, and tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (13)

HIGH SCHOOL
A four-year varsity letterwinner at Quince Orchard High School … finished his career as the Cougars all-time leading rusher with over 4,500 career yards and 98 touchdowns … his 98 rushing touchdowns are also a Montgomery County record … team captain and MVP as a junior and senior … 2020 Offensive Player of the Year … lead Quince Orchard to the 2018 Maryland Class 4A state championship and a 2019 state semifinal appearance.