EWU Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp a Pac-12 Caliber Receiver
PULLMAN -- Each year Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp proves to at minimum one Pac-12 coach he should have received an offer. This year it was Washington State head coach Mike Leach, whose Cougars' were on the receiving end of another statement game from the Football Championship Subdivision star.
Kupp, a 6'2, 215-pound senior, hauled in 12 receptions for 206 yards and three touchdowns against WSU in the Eagles 48-45 win Saturday in Pullman. Prior to the game, CBSSports NFL Draft Analyst Dane Brugler told Rivals that Kupp, in his eyes, would be the second-best receiver in the conference.
"No doubt in my opinion," Brugler said, when asked if Kupp would be a top five Pac-12 wide receiver. "Juju [Smith-Schuster] at USC might be the only wide receiver in front of him."
That would put the FCS receiver ahead of the Cougars' own Gabe Marks, who is on pace to be the programs best receiver and one of the conferences best. Marks, who finished with 10 receptions, 108 yards and two touchdowns, is only 648 receiving yards shy of the all-time total in WSU history.
Whether or not Kupp is above Marks, Smith-Schuster, or another receiver in the conference, it won't be definitive because the Eagles don't play in the Pac-12. What remains true is the A.C. Davis HS (Yakima, Washington) product will have a future in the National Football League.
Kupp has Early Draft Potential
Don't expect Eastern Washington to be announced in the first 10-25 picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, with Kupp being the selection. What is fair is from the late first-round picks in next years draft to the second round for Kupp's name to be called.
"He's a very good player," Brugler said of Kupp. "[I've] talked with him and he's also one of the most mature college players I've spoken with. [He's] a solid day two pick. Not playing FBS defenses each week doesn't help. He's played well when they've faced Pac-12 teams, though."
At the FBS level, Kupp's week one performance against WSU would place him second in receiving yards and tied for first in touchdowns with Courtland Sutton (SMU), Devonte Boyd (UNLV) and JoJo Natson, Jr. (Akron).
NFLDraftScout.com has Kupp as the No.3 receiver in the 2017 NFL Draft, a strong statement early in his senior season given the crop of talent coming out. The ranking serves as just another reminder to Pac-12 coaches, and even Mountain West coaches, that Kupp was overlooked coming out of high school in 2012.
Eastern Washington was the only offer he had. Portland State showed signifiant interest, but did not offer a scholarship. Those are the only two programs who watched Kupp significantly out of high school.