No. 31 – Marques Cooper
THIS YEAR: Junior college transfer Marques Cooper is a good athlete looking to fill several vacated spots on the 2-deep of the Cougar secondary ... Returns to football after sitting out last year but brings college experience.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Spent his 2007 sophomore season at West Los Angeles Community College and his 2006 freshman campaign at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. ... At West Los Angeles was named All Western States Conference honorable mention after tallying 47 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery ... Was a member of Saddleback's 11-1 team that won the national bowl and the Mission Conference ... Appeared in 4 games and had an interception that he returned 40 yards.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played 3 seasons of varsity football for head coach Larry Wein at Westchester (Calif.) High ... As a 2002 senior helped lead the Comets to a 10-2 record and their second straight Western Conference title ... Named all-conference second team and was selected to the Gridiron Classic all-star game as a member of the CIF city-section team.
PERSONAL: Born Feb. 2, 1984, in Los Angeles ... Mother is Alva White (traffic officer) ... Has a son (Jadyn Marques Cooper) ... Has 2 brothers (Marlon, Diron) and a sister (Jasmine) ... Majoring in sociology ... Would like to become a school counselor and football coach.
