Cal Wide Receiver Cooper Perry Excited For His Fresh Start
The Oregon transfer is embracing a new environment and a chance to show what he can do at every receiver spot.
Wide receiver Cooper Perry arrived at Cal from Oregon with a clear sense of purpose, settling into a new program while keeping his focus on development over everything else.
“It’s just been amazing. Definitely a change of environment for sure, just a lot of sun every day, which is awesome. What I expect for myself this spring is just get my feet back under me, just keep growing as a receiver room and as an individual as well. This is time where we can really grow, so that’s what I’m focused on.”
Perry had quick praise for wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard, whose NFL pedigree has made an impression on the room.
“He brings a lot of calm presence. He knows so much about football and the receiver position. It’s been nothing short of amazing just learning from him and picking his brain about everything.”
The group has had some fun with Hilliard’s playing career too.
“We show a lot of clips of him. He’s a super humble guy, he doesn’t want to say it, but he very much is. When we show a lot of clips, he likes those people quietly, but we’ve seen a lot of clips of him in the group chat too. It’s been awesome just to see what he’s done in the past and just taking it to us.”
Perry also pointed to the broader coaching staff around the receiver room as a resource the group is leaning into.
“As a receiver room, the coaches we have, Coach Pat, Coach Ike, even Coach Chad Hansen, just coming in and helping us while he’s here, getting his degree, and learning from him. He was drafted in the fourth round, just using him as an example. Having those guys in the room that you can bounce off of and pick their brain is nothing short of amazing.”
Playing as a true freshman at a program like Oregon was an early test Perry embraced.
“It was really just finding what I was good at, finding what my role could be, and just trying to earn my respect from my teammates. I didn’t want to come in and waste a year. I just wanted to play football any way I could, get on the field, learn from the older guys, and just find what I was good at.”
Within Cal’s new receiver group, Perry sees complementary skill sets across the board, with his own versatility as a calling card.
“The guys we brought in, Ian Strong, Chase Hendricks, we all play off of each other. We’re super special at different things. Specifically me, just being able to play inside slot and outside as well. Being at Oregon last year playing only slot and then coming here playing a little bit outside slot more, being able to play every single receiver position is going to be huge this year for me.”
Perry and new Cal quarterback Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele didn’t overlap much at Oregon, but the connection has come naturally.
“I did remember meeting him for three days around that time we got a little time off. Next thing I know, I didn’t see him in the locker room and looked at social media and he’s over here. Future teammate. It’s funny how that works. Jaron is just an awesome guy. You just never know what you’re going to end up with. He’s a young guy, we’re in the same grade, so just trying to show up and show the nation what we can do as younger players.”
On catching a lefty ball, Perry was matter-of-fact.
“At the end of the day you just got to catch the football. But you just need reps, and that’s what we had all winter, that’s what we have all spring. Just get reps, reps, reps and get better.”
Perry described Jaron’s leadership style as something he connects with personally.
“He’s not a raw guy. He’s super humble, really funny, brings a lot of humor to the locker room and I love that. I’m not a raw guy either. Just being able to lead in different ways, I’m seeing a lot of that out of him.”
Perry also played under head coach Tosh Lupoi at Oregon, and has watched him step into the head coach role with the same approach he’s always had.
“Coach Tosh is always going to be Coach Tosh. He’s going to coach us super hard, but at the end of the day he knows how to get the job done and how to lead a winning program because he’s been around that type of environment all throughout his career. Implementing hard practices on day one, it’s hard to practice like you’re in season on day one of spring ball, but that’s how we need to do it to get better. Just trusting in his plan and buying into what he wants to do is going to be huge for our team.”
Off the field, Perry has a personal milestone ahead, with his brother Gunnar (2027 commit) set to join the program.
“That’s definitely my best friend. He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve been around. Hopefully he gets that from me and I can teach him a little something. I’m so excited for him and his opportunity to come here and show what he can do.”
As for what he’s most looking forward to this season, Perry kept it simple.
“Really just getting my name out there again. That’s why I chose to come here. It’s a special and unique opportunity to play with a bunch of special guys and a lot of special coaches. Just get my name out there and really set myself up.”