Cats offer massive Class of 2018 defensive tackle

Not long ago Kentucky extended an offer to Class of 2018 defensive tackle Robert Cooper.

He's not your average Class of 2018 recruit.

Kentucky has offered plenty of rising high school juniors, and plenty even in the last few weeks alone.

That Cooper has a Kentucky offer isn't really what makes him unique.

What makes him unique is the fact that he's a 6-foot-2, 350-pound recruit as young as he is. And beyond that, Cooper is only 15 years old.

Boston College, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Mississippi State, Missouri, NC State and South Carolina are the other schools that have offered Cooper. Most all of those programs offered before Kentucky.

"I heard from (Kentucky) last week," Cooper told Cats Illustrated. "That's when they offered me."

It was new inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Matt House who offered Cooper on behalf of the Kentucky staff.

"They liked the way I move for a big guy like me, and my strength," Cooper said. "I'm 15 years old benching 450 (pounds) and repping 225 pounds 31 times. That's not what an average 15 year old is doing."

Cooper doesn't know much about House or the program he's now coaching for. But he seems intent on listening to the Cats' pitch.

"I just met him but I talked with Boom (Williams) for a good 30 minutes and he said nothing but good stuff about Kentucky and how it's gonna be there facilities and football-wise," Cooper said. "But I know Kentucky is going to be at my top."