By Hale McGranahan.
Zerrick Cooper will head to Los Angeles this weekend to compete in the Elite 11 Semifinals.
Along with 29 of the nation’s best quarterback prospects, he’s gunning for a spot in the Elite 11 Finals, which are held in conjunction with The Opening in July.
Cooper picked up his semifinals invitation last week during a phone conversation with ESPN’s Trent Dilfer.
“Basically, he wanted another chance to work me out and stuff like that. It’d be a great experience for me to come out and work with some of the best quarterback coaches in the nation,” Cooper told TheClemsonInsider earlier this week.
In March, Cooper worked with Dilfer at The Opening in Atlanta, but missed out on the initial invite. Dilfer encouraged Cooper to attend the Charlotte event, but he opted not to make the near five-hour trip from his home in Jonesboro, Ga.
Invitation now in hand, Cooper is slated to work against Georgia commitment Jacob Eason, Ole Miss’ Shea Patterson, Florida State’s Malik Henry, South Carolina’s Dwayne Haskins and his buddy Jawon Pass, one of three uncommitted prospects to pick up an L.A. invite.
“It means a lot, being able to go and compete with the other top quarterbacks in the nation. It just means a lot,” Cooper said. “It’s a great accomplishment that I’ve achieved.”
The four-star Clemson pledge said his mission isn’t over yet.
“I’m trying to go out there and win the whole thing, showcase my talents,” he said.
On Saturday, Cooper will take the ACT. He’ll visit Clemson at some point next week for the Dabo Swinney Football Camp, but he’s just not exactly sure which session it will be.
Cooper, who took a visit to Mississippi State earlier this spring, hasn’t scheduled any other visits.
“Right now, it’s hard for me to say,” he said. “Right now, I’m just working out with my team and stuff like that.”
Almost a full-year removed from ACL surgery, Cooper said his knee is holding up just fine.
“The knee is doing great,” he said. “I’ve been working out, day in and day out. I feel great.”
On Thursday, Cooper will head to the University of Georgia with his team for a 7-on-7 competition. On Wednesday, they’ll go to Locust Grove.