Three-star, whippet-quick wide receiver/centerfielder Khiry Cooper was drafted yesterday by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 5th round, meaning his chances of becoming a Husker just got a whole lot slimmer. (Cue the Carl Crawford remorse here.)For the superficial and easily impressed (i.e. myself), Cooper offered a lot to like when it comes to young men who have yet to play Big 12 football. He was fast, already clocking a 4.5 in the 40. More than any other Pelini recruit, he passed the "pissing match" test when he chose Nebraska over fellow big swingers like Arkansas and Michigan. KOLN called him "Nebraska's Deion Sanders," which I perceived as a race-based slight for Darin Erstad, but it's a favorable comparison nonetheless.
And now, in all likelihood, he'll spend the next four years kicking around places like Rancho Cucamonga and Cedar Rapids rather than catching passes in Lincoln. Of course there's no guarantee that any prospect will ever make the show but if Cooper is as talented as has been predicted, the allure of a pro baseball career is infinitely more alluring than that of a professional gridder.
Your average career is probably double the length, you can make more money sooner and, as evidenced by the Wells, Kruks and Becks of the world, you don't really have to be athletic or in shape to succeed at baseball. Of course, Cooper was drafted because he is athletic and in shape but your chance of staying that way through your late 30s is a lot more likely on the diamond (see: Kenny Lofton).
Unless the Angels seriously lowball the kid--and he possesses a heart of pure gold--I don't see him in scarlet in cream come August.
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