Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight, forty time and bench press)?

Willie Cooper:  I am 6’1” and I weighed in at 211 pounds at the Pro Day.  My hand is 10 inches and my wingspan is 33 ¾.  I had a 29 ½ vertical jump, a 9’2” long jump, a 4.47 shuttle, a 12.03 60-yard shuttle and a 6.84 three cone drill.  I got a 17 on my wonderlic test.  I was able to do the bench press 12 times.  I ran a 4.83 forty the first time and the second time I ran a 4.78.   
 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school?

Willie Cooper:  I played safety and quarterback.  Being a quarterback in high school was really good for me.  Everyone wanted to be the quarterback in high school.  Everyone looks up to you and you develop those leadership skills.  We ran a spread offense in high school.  There were a lot of designed option runs.  It also gave me a bigger edge at safety. 

Alex Khvatov:  What schools were interested in you when you were coming out of high school?

Willie Cooper:  Mostly everybody.  Toward the end, I was interested in the three Florida schools and Oklahoma.

Alex Khvatov:  Why did you choose Miami? 

Willie Cooper:  Basically I fell in love with the city and the people.  There are a lot of humble people.  It wasn’t all about football and going to the NFL.  They make you a man first and then worry about football.  It is really big on academics.  It is about family tradition and I like that.

Alex Khvatov:  What was it like to play at Miami, a school that is known for its tradition and its winning ways?

Willie Cooper:  It was more than I expected.  Everyone has a tradition, but at Miami it is more than just a football team.  Everyone is really dedicated in Miami.  The city links everything to sports.  It is a family atmosphere from the community standpoint.

Alex Khvatov:  How have you prepared for the NFL Draft. 

Willie Cooper:  I have been working out at the Hit Center in Jacksonville.  I am linked up in Jacksonville with a guy named Aaron.  A lot of the NFL players work out there.  It is a good facility.  I improved my body mass and got my fat down.  It is key to get the lean body mass down.  The center focuses on nutrition.  You got to eat right along with the speed and physical aspect.

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me about your Pro Day.

Willie Cooper:  I was very satisfied.  I didn’t have much value like other college athletes.  I was focusing on the Pro Day.  It is like Indianapolis here at Miami.  I took it serious.  I came there with the clear mind.  I wanted to give it all I got.  At the end of the day, I could have done better but I did my best.  I think that I can run faster, but that is not my biggest attribute.  I am a big, physical guy that can get to the ball.  Not everyone can run that fast. 

Alex Khvatov:  What teams have shown interest in you during this draft process?

Willie Cooper:   I got a couple of calls.  The Patriots called me twice.  The Vikings called me once.  I received a letter in the mail from the Browns.  I have worked out for the Steelers and the Dolphins.  The Steelers worked out Kenny Phillips, and I was there at the same time and they worked me out too. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths on the football field?

Willie Cooper:   My strength is my work ethic.  I don’t bring a lot of the finesse.  I am a hard worker.  I get to the ball.  I am a strong and tough guy.  Tackling is one of my stronger attributes.  I started for only one year, but I am also a hard worker on special teams.

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game do you need to improve upon?

Willie Cooper:  Obviously study film.  You pick up a lot more in film study.  Probably my speed and my strength.  I need to trust myself more.  I am a reliable player, but I need to have more freedom with myself out there. 

Alex Khvatov:  From an individual standpoint, were you satisfied with your senior campaign?   

Willie Cooper:  I was satisfied with my senior year.  When you actually get your shot at Miami, you have to make the most of it.  The coaches trusted me.  I want to thank Coach Shannon for that.  When you are starting out at the college level, you have to find a role on the team.  I played a lot on special teams and I helped the team out in that aspect.

Alex Khvatov:  You saw a lot of playing time at safety and you were a standout on special teams in college, what are you going to have to do to make an NFL roster.

Willie Cooper:  I am going to show them my personal character.  I am going to grind it out.  I will give it my all.  I will make myself standout.  I will work hard.  I am going to show them that I want to be there.

Alex Khvatov:  Is there more pressure on you because you are coming from Miami that has such a rich safety tradition?

Willie Cooper:  I wouldn’t call it pressure.  There is a lot of tradition here.  We all work hard out there.  I feel more pressure on myself.  I want to prove that I can be an NFL player and be on the same pedestal as those other players.  I am my own biggest critic.

Alex Khvatov:  Your head coach Randy Shannon came in last year and brought a sense of discipline, what kind of an effect has it had on the football program?

Willie Cooper:  It had a tremendous effect.  Coach Coker was a good coach.  But Coach Shannon brought a lot of discipline and a lot of accountability.  You had to man up to a lot of responsibility.  He is making players understand that it is about life too.  What you do off-the-field affects what you do on the field.

Alex Khvatov:  How disappointing was it to finish your senior season with a 5-7 record?

Willie Cooper:  I mean it is disappointing to lose.  It hurt.  I mean it makes you value tradition.  The season was disappointing for the fans and the community.  That type of season is unacceptable.  Losing is not acceptable.  When you have been through the hard times, you can learn a lot from it.  It makes you stronger.  You have to look at yourself in the mirror. 

Alex Khvatov:  Describe your former teammate safety Kenny Phillips.

Willie Cooper:  Kenny Phillips is like a quarterback on defense.  He would line up the defense in the right spot.  He goes beyond what is asked of him on the field.  He is a humble guy.  He would be a great contributor in the NFL.  He is one of my great friends.  I talk to him four or five times a week.  I am also good friends with Brandon Merriweather who was my former roommate. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the toughest player that you have faced over your college career?

Willie Cooper:  Let’s see Calvin Johnson is a great one.  Younger brother of Michael Vick was a good player.  I competed against tough guys in practice every day.

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your football career up to this point?

Willie Cooper:  I think the highlight of my football career would be when I caught an interception against Duke in the fourth quarter during my junior season.  I stepped in during that game and showed the coaching staff that I can play.  I build trust and it went over to next year.  I started my senior year.  I took advantage of it. 

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team. 

Willie Cooper:  Growing up it was America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys.  Then it became the Jacksonville Jaguars when they came to town.  I am so close to the Jaguars because I am from this area.  It is easy to relate to them.  I have been to a lot of their games. 

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite player?

Willie Cooper:  Ronnie Lott.  He had that tenacity on defense.  Dawkins is another player that shows eagerness and tenacity on the field.  I like the defensive aspect of the game.  Marvin Harrison.  I fell in love with Chad Johnson and Randy Moss because they elevate the play of the safeties whenever they are on the field.

Alex Khvatov:  Which underclassmen on your team should we keep an eye on in the future?

Willie Cooper:  If I had to pick one right now, it would be offensive wise redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve.  RB Javarris James is slash.  On defense, it is LB Glenn Cook.  He is more up there from the technique standpoint and he is a smart football player. 

Alex Khvatov:  In the summer of 2006 you were shot in the buttocks, how did that incident change your life?

Willie Cooper:  I mean it makes you value your life.  You cherish your life.  It was a life turning event for me.  It makes you value your friends and your family more.  You realize that football is not everything.  You want to be a good person.  You value a lot of things.  It was a life changing event for me.  It appeared to be a home invasion early in the morning.  The suspect was never caught.  It was an unfortunate event.

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Willie Cooper:  The commrodory of teammates.  The funny locker room conversations.  The plane ride and the bus ride home.  I cherish my teammates.

Alex Khvatov:  What is the one thing in your daily life that you can’t live without?

Willie Cooper:  The one thing I can’t deal without is trying to make a difference every day in somebody’s life.  I am a good listener.  It is important for me to try to make a difference.  After my workouts, I like to spend time with my family.  I play with my cousins every day.   

Alex Khvatov:  Tell me something about yourself that makes you unique.

Willie Cooper:  I guess my sense of humor.  My ability to make friends and make people smile.  You rarely see me mad. 

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Willie Cooper:  Away from the football field, I like animals.  I like to go to the zoo.  I like working on cars.  I go to drag races.  I am a good old country boy. 

Alex Khvatov:  What would you like to do with your life after football.

Willie Cooper:  Right now I am trying to get in the recreational department.  I want to work with the kids.  I want to help them with after school activities.  I want to be able to change a person. 

Alex Khvatov:  Finish the sentence, Willie Cooper is:..

Willie Cooper:  a realistic person who values the norms in life.  I am just happy.