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Northmont grad, Ball State cornerback Cooper impresses Mich. coach

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By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 12:52 AM Saturday, April 30, 2011

Quintin Cooper (Northmont) did not require any extra motivation to play well in Ball State’s spring football game last Saturday.

But when told new Michigan coach Brady Hoke (Fairmont East), the man who led BSU to a 12-0 regular-season record in 2007 and remains something of a rock star in Muncie, Ind., was in the stands, it added fuel to his fire.

Hoke was on hand mainly to watch his nephew, Kyle Hoke, a senior free safety, but also to support new coach Pete Lembo and a program that has blended back into the woodwork — 6-18 record — since he left.

“I didn’t know for sure he was coming,” said Cooper, “but I kind of heard it in the locker room. Somebody just told us we needed to put on a show for Coach Hoke.”

And that’s exactly what Cooper, a sophomore cornerback, did with five tackles, a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown and two pass deflections.

The interception came in the second quarter at the expense of Keith Wenning (Coldwater), who afterward won a lukewarm endorsement from Lembo as the frontrunner to start at quarterback.

Wenning, who started the final 10 games last season as a freshman, threw a 49-yard pass to set up a fourth-quarter touchdown. He lost 25 pounds in the offseason and reportedly demonstrated improved quickness.

“I believe in my ability,” Wenning told the Muncie Star-Press. “I’m confident if they pick me that I can do it.”

Wenning’s worst nightmare was Cooper, who almost had another interception when he blitzed off the edge, tipped a pass intended for a running back in the flat and just missed reeling it in.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Cooper did not play much on defense as a freshman but now is in line to start for the Cardinals.

“I’ve worked to get bigger, faster and stronger to show these new coaches I should be one of the top 11 guys,” he said. “I took that mind-set into the spring.”

• With Hoke’s many contacts in the Miami Valley, his BSU teams tended to be well-stocked with area talent. Now it’s down to Cooper, Wenning, senior defensive end and co-captain Andrew Puthoff (St. Henry), fifth-year senior linebacker Lorren Womack (Wayne) and fifth-year senior lineman Ryan Hartke (St. Henry).

Cooper apparently is representing Northmont well enough for the new coaches to be targeting several other Thunderbolts, including defensive back Justin Woods, offensive lineman K.J. Rieder and receiver Jamaal Trammell, all about to be seniors.

“I just found that out,” Cooper said. “I’m definitely going to put in a good word. Got to get as many Northmont guys in here as we can.”

Campus tour

• Offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders (Northmont) was recovering from abdominal surgery and did not play in the Florida State spring game. The 6-foot-6, 307-pound Sanders, who missed the entire spring season a year ago after having hip surgery, is expected to be fine for his senior season and again handle right tackle for the Seminoles. He has never missed a game due to injury.

• Sophomore tennis player Katie Pleiman (Chaminade Julienne), who competes at No. 1 singles for Xavier, was named first team All-Atlantic 10. She had 21 singles wins and 15 more in doubles. In the spring dual match season, she went 16-4 and was unbeaten in A-10 duals. Katie teamed with sister Christie Pleiman (CJ) for most of her double victories.

If you have information about an athlete competing in college, please share it by emailing Sean McClelland at

smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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