Nov. 23, 2003
LOGAN, Utah - Chris Cooley Utah State
* Team Captain* Ranked 20th in the NCAA with 6.20 receptions per game, best among Mackey Award finalists.* Ranked 55th in the NCAA with 73.20 receiving yards per game, best among Mackey Award finalists.* School record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 62.* School record for receptions by a tight end in a career with 96.* Rated nation's top tight end by CBS.Sportsline.com for much of the year.* Preseason all-Sun Belt Conference* Invited to Senior Bowl.* Missed two games early in the year with a stress fracture in his foot, but returned quickly.* First non-wide receiver to lead Utah State in receptions since 1983.* Caught at least two passes in 17 consecutive games.* Caught at least four passes in 13 of his last 14 games.* FInished career with a career-high 10 receptions for 125 yards (the third 100-yard receiving game of his career) at Idaho.
2003 Game By GameOpponent Rec. Yds. TD Long Notesat Utah 4 26 0 12at Nebraska 6 92 1 41 41-yarder was USU's only TDat Arizona State 8 78 0 24 Team-best eight receptionsUL-Monroe Did Not Play - InjuryNew Mexico Did Not Play - InjuryWyoming 5 72 0 34 Team-best five receptionsNorth Texas 8 78 2 20 First two-TD game of his careerArkansas State 3 60 2 40 Two TDs on three catchesMid. Tenn. 4 56 0 26N.M. State 9 97 1 19 Then-career high nine catchesTroy State 5 48 0 12 TE school record 52nd receptionIdaho 10 125 0 25 Career high 10 receptions
Totals 62 732 6 41 School season and Career TE reception records
Cooley vs. the Mackey Award Finalists
NCAA Receptions Per Game20. Chris Cooley, UTAH STATE 6.2066. Kellen Winslow, Miami 4.9169. Heath Miller, Virginia 4.82
NCAA Receiving Yards Per Game55. Chris Cooley, UTAH STATE 73.20(only one of finalists ranked in top 100)
Player, Class Rec. Yds. TD Pct. of Teams' Rec.Chris Cooley, SR., USU 62 732 6 25.3%& (missed 2 games)Kellen Winslow II, Jr., Miami 54 548 1 24.7%Heath Miller, So., Virginia 53 606 5 20.0%Kris Wilson, Sr., Pittsburgh 38 544 8 17.6%Ben Troupe, Sr., Florida 35 517 3 17.6%Ben Moa, Sr., Utah 25 360 3 12.8%Matt Herian, So., Nebraska 20 420 2 25.6%Ben Utecht, Sr., Minnesota 18 289 2 11.0%& - In the 10 game he played in, Cooley had 28.7 percent of his team's receptions.
