Series:
New Edition Series WR Room: Cooper Barkate All-22 Breakdown
The Miami Hurricanes have reloaded the wide receiver room from top to bottom with transfers and high school recruits, totaling seven new additions to the rotation. One of them is the well-rounded and polished senior Cooper Barkate, a 6'1, 195-pound receiver who comes alongside QB Darian Mensah from Duke. His speed and route-running ability make him a handful for any defender tasked with covering him. He can beat you at the line of scrimmage with elite footwork and body control, or he can erase cushion and win at the second level, allowing him to consistently beat defenses over the top.Production
Barkate attended Harvard University for three seasons. He recorded 113 receptions for 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns.As a freshman in 2022, Barkate recorded 10 receptions for 157 yards while averaging 15.7 yards per catch during his redshirt season.
In his redshirt freshman season, he burst onto the scene with 40 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 12.5 yards per catch.
Barkate broke out in his redshirt sophomore season, recording 63 receptions for 1,084 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging an impressive 17.2 yards per reception. This explosive year led to his transfer to Duke, where he teamed up with Mensah.
After making the jump from FCS to Power Four competition, it was most likely not expected that he would record another 1,000-yard season. He amassed 72 receptions for 1,106 yards and seven touchdowns while still averaging an impressive 15.4 yards per reception, becoming Mensah's top target.
Player Breakdown
Play #1.
1 V 1 against soft press man coverage.
Barkate smartly slow-plays the release, which allows him to eat the cushion between the CB without making him feel threatened, and then makes his double stick at the top, pushing the CB outside and freeing up the slant. We call this stepping on a DB's toes, and it is great technique and use of suddenness, which is the number one attribute for route-runners.
So much space was created that even after a bad ball that was behind him, he still had multiple yards of separation.
Play #2.
Next victim. Cover 0 (No safety help) in soft press man coverage vs Barkate.
He opts for a hesitation split release which really puts CB's in a bind since the WR completely squares up and has a inside or outside release option.
Barkate switch released, inside and from that very first move, the CB was off balance, and once he lost the inside leverage within the first 3 yards, it was over. Once the inside leverage was secured, Cooper pushed vertically and then snapped inside on the slant with great twitch that caused the CB to completely fall. This was an explosive rep showcasing his ability to be a home-run hitter.
Play#3.
Next Victim. Now in a 31 set as the number 3 WR running a smash concept.
So crafty, he eats up the cushion and secures the outside leverage on an outside breaking route to the corner. This is just good football and high level IQ.
CB never had a chance as Barkate just beats him to the ball since he already won at the top of his route by manipulating the leverage, and taking the outside, giving his QB a huge window to deliver the football.
Play#4.
Next Victim. ACC Championship game. 1 V 1 Press man which shifts to a 1 Safety high look.
Cooper does an excellent job again hesitating into his switch release, which allows him to fully square up the CBs and abuse them with his sudden movements. Even while getting grabbed by his facemask, he was able to create an explosive play downfield.
Showcased great tracking ability to finish downfield over his outside shoulder and still able to add on extra yardage.
Play#5.
Next Victim. ACC Championship. 1 V 1 off man coverage with 1 High safety. Nickel corner is clearly playing outside leverage as his help on defense is to the middle of the field but Cooper is still going to win this rep.
Cooper once again stems his release towards the CB's leverage and is able to square him up and get to the outside for the slot fade even vs outside shade coverage.
He then finishes the back-shoulder pass, continuing to show he has an excellent ability to track the ball downfield and finish over the top of defenders
Play#6
These next few examples will show how he consistently attacks DB's blind spots to create separation. (This guy is a STUD if you haven't figured that out yet)
Cooper runs into the CB's blindspot before making his move on the post completely turning him around and was wide open for a big touchdown downfield. The ball was completed to the wheele route under neath for 6.
Play#7
Excellent job again of attacking the blind spot. You can see that he started his route lined up on the top of the numbers but has clearly stemmed outside so that he can enter the blind spot.
Barkate easily could have scored an explosive touchdown on this play if not for the offensive linemen being driven straight into Mensah as he was releasing the football. This caused the ball to be severely underthrown. His technique is going to be extremely difficult to defend because he is a weapon in the slot and outside.
Play#8
Next victim. Against another Cover 3 look, he takes advantage of the CB’s blind spot to create separation for an easy completion.
Cooper makes a plant 5 yards into his route and then pushes vertical to sell the fade route while he is just trying to enter the CB’s blind spot. Once he reaches it, he snaps down at the top of his route, and creates 5+ yards of separation for an easy first down.
Play#9
Next Victim. 1 V 1 Press man in the slot with 1 safety high again.
Barkate does a great job squaring up the nickel with his split release, goes inside and breaks back to the corner route. The ball was late and high, so the only choice was to go up and get it at the highest point. Elite hands to make this contested catch for a TD.
Final Thoughts
Cooper Barkate is a DUDE. He clearly is a dynamic playmaker who can win at the line of scrimmage, the second level, and over the top of defenses. He constantly showcases great technique by squaring up defenders and killing them with his quickness. He has elite hands and route-running ability both inside in the slot and outside, which is going to give this offense so many ways to attack coverages. I can see him continuing to be used in the slot in 4-wide sets as well as winning 1-v-1 matchups on the outside. I expect a third 1,000-yard season for Barkate despite the running back room and the sharing of touches with the deepest WR corps in the ACC.If you like the content be sure to check out the full review on YouTube in the link below!
