Quinton Cooley RB Liberty | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Quinton Cooley RB Liberty
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.56 seconds (50%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.56 seconds (50%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 66.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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67% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
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73% |
| Break Tackles: |
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63% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
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45% |
| Pass Blocking: |
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44% |
| Run Blocking: |
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56% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#408
Position rank:
#41
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 967 | ||
ESPN RATING: 73/100
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247 RATING: 87/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Peytton Pickett - Jackson State |
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74% |
| Jaret Patterson - Buffalo |
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73% |
| Jaylen Warren - Oklahoma State |
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62% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Quinton Cooley, a 5'7", 210-pound running back from Liberty University, became a dominant force in the Conference USA during his senior season. Born and raised in Bailey, North Carolina, Cooley's football journey began at Southern Nash High School, where he led the state in rushing with 2,977 yards and 54 touchdowns as a senior. His remarkable high school career, which included over 4,800 rushing yards and 80 touchdowns, earned him a spot in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.Cooley's collegiate path started at Wake Forest, where he played 25 games over three seasons, accumulating 402 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His decision to transfer to Liberty for his senior year proved transformative. In 2023, Cooley exploded onto the scene, leading all C-USA running backs with 1,401 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him the 2023 C-USA Newcomer of the Year award and first-team All-Conference honors.
Throughout the 2023 season, Cooley showcased his durability and consistency, starting 10 of 14 games and recording seven 100-yard rushing performances. His 1,401 rushing yards stand as the second-highest single-season total in Liberty's history. Cooley's impact extended beyond conference play, as evidenced by his 79-yard performance against eighth-ranked Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl, highlighting his ability to produce against top-tier competition.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Natural instincts and anticipation as a runner, showcasing plus vision to locate cutback lanes and exploit defensive gaps effectively.
- Compact frame with low pad level allows for excellent contact balance, routinely bouncing off initial hits and churning out yards after contact.
- Displays patience in the backfield, setting up blocks and allowing plays to develop before hitting the hole with authority.
- Exhibits a high motor and competitive toughness, consistently fighting through tackles and wearing down defenses over four quarters.
- Dependable ball security skills, minimizing turnover risk despite heavy usage in the ground game.
- Proven workhorse capability, demonstrating stamina and durability to handle a high-volume carry load throughout the season.
- Shows willingness and adequate technique in pass protection, engaging blitzers effectively despite size limitations.
- Productive runner with a nose for the end zone, consistently finding ways to punch it in in goal-line and short-yardage situations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Undersized for the position by NFL standards, raising concerns about his ability to withstand the physical rigors of a full pro season.
- Lacks elite burst and long speed, limiting his home run potential and ability to consistently outrun defensive backs at the next level.
- Underdeveloped receiving skills and limited route tree, hampering his three-down potential in modern NFL offenses.
- Subpar lateral agility and change-of-direction skills, reducing his effectiveness in making defenders miss in the open field.
- Struggles to generate chunk plays consistently, with a limited track record of breaking off explosive runs against high-level competition.
Scouting Report: Summary
Cooley's skill set profiles him as a potential committee back at the next level, best suited for a zone-blocking scheme that maximizes his vision and decision-making. His ability to grind out tough yards between the tackles and fall forward through contact could make him an asset in short-yardage and goal-line packages.While his lack of elite measurables and explosion may cap his ceiling, Cooley's production against quality competition suggests he can carve out a role as a complementary piece in an NFL backfield. His high-effort play style and special teams potential could help him stick on a roster as a developmental prospect.
In the right system, Cooley could compete for touches as a change-of-pace or situational back, particularly in offenses that emphasize downhill running and exploit gaps in the defense. His durability and consistent college production give him a chance to outperform his draft position if he lands with a team that can leverage his strengths effectively.
How other scouting services rate Quinton Cooley (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
408.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
36.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.