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University of Minnesota Athletics
Duran Cooley Signs NLI With Gopher Football Program
3/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gopher football program announced today that Duran Cooley from Reedley Junior College in Reedley, Calif., signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Gophers next season.
Cooley, a 6-0, 205-pound defensive back helped lead his junior college team to an 11-1 record and a Central Valley Conference Championship in 2005 while being named CVC first-team all-conference. He was a three-time conference Player of the Week this past season and finished the year with 75 tackles, 13 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one blocked punt for a touchdown.
Cooley originally signed with Boise State following his high school career at Los Angeles Cathedral High and spent two seasons with the Broncos. A two-time All-City selection in high school, he recorded 65 tackles during his senior year, in addition to four interceptions and six forced fumbles. He also returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns as he was named his team’s defensive most valuable player. In his junior year, Cooley produced nine interceptions, with four returned for touchdowns.
With the addition of Cooley, Minnesota has now signed 21 players to NLIs during this year’s signing period. Nineteen players signed with Minnesota on Feb. 1, while Daron Love from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., signed with the Gophers earlier this month. Cooley is scheduled to enroll at Minnesota this summer
