Football

NORFOLK, VA. - Endor Cooper has been voted the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Defensive Player of the Year by the conference coaches and sports information directors.

A 6-3, 250-pound senior middle linebacker from Woodbridge, Va., Cooper had his best season in 2007, recording 50 solo tackles, 38 assisted tackles, three tackles for losses and three fumble recoveries, thus establishing himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league.

"It is a compliment to him on how he has performed over the past seasons," said Howard Coach Carey Bailey.  "He is one of the few (returning) players on our team that has made a lot of noise on the field with his performance.  It is nice to be rated as one of the best in the conference."

Cooper has shown marked progress each season.  As a freshman in 2004, he played in nine games and still had 18 tackles and a team-high six QB hurries.  He received a medical redshirt for a knee injury in 2005, but showed no signs of it as he recorded 50 tackles--11 for losses--and 8.5 sacks while playing as a defensive end.  His five sack performance against Bethune-Cookman earned him MEAC and National Player of the Week honors.