Cooper Mathers has not caught many passes for the Cougars in 2024, but when he has, they’ve been big time plays.
The senior tight end from Seattle has an insane 60% touchdown rate when he does catch the ball. He’s found the endzone in five of the WSU’s nine games so far.
At six-foot, two inches, and weighing 230 pounds, Mathers is relatively small for a tight end, but he makes up for it with his capabilities as an elite red zone threat. Mathers might disappear in long parts of games, but he has so far been able to be effective in the red zone. His connection with John Mateer has been impressive, to say the least. Somehow, in the red zone, it just clicks for them.
Last year, as a junior, Mathers caught 21 passes for 251 yards, but only one touchdown. This year, he is on pace for fewer receptions and less yards, but is also on pace for eight touchdowns!
Mathers is making the most out of his opportunity in his final year as a Cougar. He came to the school during the pandemic, as a preferred walk-on from O’Dea, and slowly worked his way up the TE depth chart. When he first came to WSU the plan was for Mathers to play linebacker for scout team, and special teams in games. His work ethic and determination helped him earn time as a tight end, which was his preferred position in high school. In 2022, he caught one pass, but in 2023, he found himself getting significant playing time at TE.
“I had a lot of hard work finally paid off,” said Mathers on his journey to becoming the Cougars starting TE.
After his two-touchdown performance against Hawaii, his quarterback spoke highly of him.
“He adds a lot,” Mateer said. “He’s had my trust, I don’t want him to think he hasn’t had my trust.”
Coach Jake Dickert has also had high praise for his senior TE.
“Coop’s always just been a super reliable guy,” Dickert said. “Everything we ask him to do, he seems to just deliver in those moments.”
Mathers scored his sixth touchdown of the season against Utah State. Fittingly, it was one of just two catches of the game. But he delivered in the big spot when it counted, like he has done all year long.
