Few players have benefitted from these Arizona recruiting showcases than Williams Field interior lineman Cooper Darling.
I talked to Darling leading into the Red Mountain showcase that Williams Field participated in, and he said, “After tonight, we’ll see what happens.”
Since then, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman, who came into the week with a NAU offer, received offers from Arizona State, Oregon State and Idaho.
ASU offensive line coach Dave Christensen was in attendance and extended the offer to Darling shortly after the showcase.
“We talked about the future and our plan moving forward,” Darling said of their phone conversation. “I went to their Junior Day and last season I went to some of their games and just love being around campus, love the campus, love the environment there.”
His first Power 5 offer could lead to his recruitment picking up steam.
“It means a lot to get a big (offer),” Darling said. “Staying home means a lot also but to also grow from this and get other ones.”
Cooper is one of the many returners along the Williams Field offensive line, including tackles Noah Nelson, who holds over 20 offers, and Andrew Garcia, who was also recently offered by NAU and New Mexico State. The Black Hawks have a history of strong offensive lines, and this group hopes to be one of the most accomplished yet.
“It just means a lot being a part of the program and working for that,” Darling said. “It’s not about yourself, it’s about the bigger picture.”
