Quinton Cooley

Liberty Football Media Day on July 20th, 2023. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton).

Class:
Junior
Position:
RB
Height:
5-7
Weight:
210
Prev School:
Wake Forest
Hometown:
Bailey, N.C.

2024 (Sr.):

William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List
Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Award Preseason Watch List
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Award Preseason Watch List
HERO Sports Group of Five Preseason All-America second team honoree
Athlon Sports CUSA Preseason All-Conference First-Team
Phil Steele CUSA Preseason All-Conference First-Team
CUSA Preseason Player Watch List

2023 (Jr.):

2023 CUSA Newcomer of the Year
2023 CUSA All-Conference first-team honoree
HERO Sports Group of Five All-America third team selection
National Rankings:
- No. 13 in rushing yards per carry (6.34)
- No. 7 in rushing yards (1,401)
- No. 15 in rushing yards per game (100.1)
- No. 14 in total touchdowns (16)
Saw playing time in all 14 games and started 10 contests
Leads all CUSA running backs in rushing yards (1,401) and rushing touchdowns (16)
Only CUSA player averaging more than 100 yards per game (100.1)
Seven 100-yard rushing performances in 2023
Six 100-yard games in CUSA games
Ranks third in CUSA in scoring (96 points/6.9 points per game)
Three games rushing for two or more touchdowns (all against CUSA opponents)
No. 1 in CUSA in all-purpose yards (103.1 per game)
Second highest single-season rushing performance in school history (1,401 yards)
16th 1,000-yard rushing performance in program history
23 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana Tech
Named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week after the Louisiana Tech game
24 carries for 134 yards and three touchdowns against MTSU
28 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns against Jax State
11 carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns against New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game
Eight carries for 79 yards, including a 41-yard gain against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

Previous School:

Transferred to Liberty from Wake Forest
Saw playing time in 25 career games at Wake Forest during the 2020-22 seasons
Finished his career at Wake Forest with 96 rushing attempts for 402 yards and four touchdowns
51 carries for 246 yards and three touchdowns in 2022
Also added four receptions for 30 yards

Prep:

Graduated from Southern Nash High School in Bailey, N.C.
Three-star recruit as ranked by Rivals.com
Finished as the leading rusher in North Carolina with 2,977 yards, an average of 212.6 yards per game
Also the top scorer in the state with 54 touchdowns
Second in the nation with 352 points scored and third with 54 touchdowns
Accumulated 3,445 all-purpose yards
Named to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas
Had 14 100-yard rushing games as a senior
Rushed for over 4,800 yards and 80 touchdowns in his career
Helped lead Southern Nash to the state 3A championship game against Charlotte Catholic
Rushed for 1,756 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior
Named to the High School OT All-East team
Also participated in basketball, track & field and baseball

Personal:

Son of Jamella Johnson and Edward White
Nephew of Taquisha Walker
Completed his Interdisciplinary Studies major at Liberty in Fall 2023
Currently pursuing his master’s degree in Human Services Counseling: Executive Leadership
Birthday is May 18

Student-Athlete Q&A
What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
When I ran for 413 yards with a torn labrum.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My cousin, Trevion Cooley, Running back for Georgia Tech. Another cousin, Tamarcus Cooley, Safety for NC State.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
I check Teamworks every morning.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I like to go Bowling.

Do you have any current pets (name and type of animal)?
I have a dog named Winter.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Earl Campbell.