Currently ranked among the top 200 juniors in Pennsylvania’s 2028 class, standing 6’0, 175 pounds with a reported 100 meter dash time of 11.06 seconds. That is an encouraging track number for a developing wide receiver, and I believe getting below the 11 second mark would do wonders for his recruiting stock. He already has the speed to challenge defensive backs vertically, but reaching that benchmark would give college coaches another measurable reason to take his athletic profile seriously. He has tagged me twice throughout October, sharing individual game cutups and making a consistent effort to get his production in front of evaluators. I have never seen him play in person, which is something I would like to change. Considering his current ranking and the athletic traits he continues to demonstrate, I should make an effort to get out to one of his games in the future.

He posted a three minute midseason highlight reel approximately two weeks ago and has since uploaded two additional single game cutups, one against Upper Merion Area High School and another against Pottstown High School. I appreciate that level of activity because it gives me an opportunity to follow his progress beyond a single collection of highlights. His midseason tape opens with him aligned in the slot out of a 12 personnel formation, with two tight ends on the field. He receives a toss on a wide receiver reverse, allowing him to get outside the offensive tackles and attack the perimeter. What stands out is his patience while allowing the blocks to develop in front of him. He doesn’t immediately sprint toward the sideline without a plan. Instead, he reads the available space, sets up his blockers and accelerates once the rushing lane becomes clear. He turns the opportunity into a 60 yard touchdown, giving us an early look at the track speed that makes him such an interesting offensive weapon.

His second rep has him aligned outside the numbers in an ace formation, with the quarterback giving one of his best offensive weapons an opportunity to make a play downfield. The throw isn’t particularly accurate, and there isn’t much to evaluate from a pure route running standpoint, but the finish is impressive. He tracks the football approximately 30 to 40 yards downfield, recognizes that the pass is underthrown and works back toward the line of scrimmage to secure the catch. I like his ability to adjust to a poorly placed football without losing his concentration. His ball tracking, hands and overall ball skills are evident on this rep, and those qualities are important for a receiver who is going to be asked to make difficult catches against collegiate defensive backs.

His next rep has him returning to the slot in an ace look, where he again demonstrates how effectively he can get behind a defense. One of the more interesting parts of his game is the way he changes tempo throughout his routes. He doesn’t simply run at one speed from the snap until the football arrives. He can slow down, accelerate and shift gears to create separation, making his speed somewhat deceptive to defenders attempting to stay attached to him. That ability to manipulate his pace is particularly valuable for a vertical receiver because it can force defensive backs to hesitate before he accelerates into open space. Combined with his reported 11.06 second 100 meter time, it gives him a promising foundation as a downfield threat.

The rep around the 40 second mark is another good example of his ability to create opportunities beyond the original structure of a play. He works through traffic near the line of scrimmage, gets past a relatively weak jam and continues upfield despite dealing with illegal contact from a safety. Rather than allowing the contact to take him out of the play, he keeps working and adjusts as his quarterback extends the action. He does a good job recognizing that the play is breaking down, finding available space and eventually working himself wide open behind the defense. I particularly appreciate his awareness in these situations. He understands how to remain involved when the initial route doesn’t produce an immediate target, and he gives his quarterback another opportunity to make something happen.

The recurring theme throughout this tape is his ability to find open space behind opposing defenses. Whether he is using his straight line speed, changing tempo throughout a route, adjusting to an inaccurate throw or continuing to work after a play breaks down, he consistently finds ways to become available downfield. There is a natural playmaking element to his game that goes beyond simply being a fast athlete. He understands how to use his speed, demonstrates encouraging ball skills and appears comfortable operating from multiple alignments. I still want to see more of his complete route running ability, particularly against physical coverage and defensive backs who can challenge him consistently at the line of scrimmage, but the available film gives me plenty to be encouraged about.

This is a prospect I’m continuing to evaluate with Division I potential in mind. His current placement among Pennsylvania’s top 200 juniors reflects the athletic upside and playmaking ability I’ve already seen, but I want to determine whether he has the complete skill set to warrant serious Division I recruiting attention. Breaking the 11 second barrier in the 100 meters would certainly help his case, as would continued development as a route runner and more opportunities to evaluate him against quality competition. I appreciate how consistently he has been posting film, and I would love to see him in person before making a more definitive assessment of his collegiate ceiling. There is legitimate talent here, and I’m interested in seeing just how high he can climb.

Zakaa Cooper Zakaa Cooper 6'1" | 175 lbs | WR/DB Phoenixville | 2028 State PA is a good cornerback in the 2028 class. He has good size (6’1″) and athleticism. He is a prototypical cornerback. He does a good job in both man-to-man and zone coverage. In man-to-man, he shows good ability to match up against good wide receivers. Then, in coverage, he does a superb job of covering the deep ball and still coming upfield to make plays. He also shows a good ability to make tackles in the open field. Cooper is the rare taller cornerback (6’1″), and it helps him make plays all over the field. He is a talented cornerback in the 2028 class.