On Cooper: Redshirt junior shortstop who returns to UCF after transferring to Rollins College following the 2004 season ... only spent one semester at Rollins before enrolling at UCF again in the spring of 2005 ... strong defensive player who can make all of the plays at shortstop ... strong arm and good range up the middle ... pesky hitter who never gives in to an opposing pitcher ... enters the season as the starting shortstop ... versatile infielder who can also play second and third base.
As a Junior (2005): Sat out the season per NCAA transfer rules ... transferred to Rollins College for the fall semester before coming back to UCF in the spring of 2005.
As a Sophomore (2004): Part-time starter at shortstop who appeared in 45 games with 14 starts ... hit .268 with one home run and 15 RBI ... defensive replacement in both games of the FIU series (Feb. 7-8) ... also played in all three games vs. LSU and at Bethune-Cookman ... 1-for-1 with a run scored and two RBI off the bench vs. Utah (Feb. 20) ... broke a 5-5 tie with a two-run single to propel UCF to a 7-6 win vs. Utah (Feb. 21) ... 2-for-4 in the series finale vs. the Utes (Feb. 22) ... 1-for-2 with two runs and two RBI vs. Wagner (Mar. 15) ... 2-for-4 with two RBI in second game of the Wagner series (Mar. 16) ... 1-for-1 with a RBI and run scored vs. Belmont (April 17) ... 2-for-4 with first career home run at No. 13 Clemson (May 8) ... also scored three runs in the 7-4 win over the Tigers ... 2-for-4 with two runs scored vs. Mercer (May 14) ... 2-for-4 vs. Troy State in A-Sun Tournament (May 28).
As a Freshman (2003): Starter for most of the season at shortstop ... appeared in 45 games making 38 starts ... was brilliant with the glove, committing just eight errors ... .950 fielding percentage ... hit .239 with 11 RBI.
Prior to UCF: Four-year letterman for Frank Viola at Lake Highland ... three-time all-conference selection ... two-time all-county honorable mention ... started on the varsity team as an eighth grader ... talented student-athlete who was a member of the honor roll, National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Prior to UCF: Jonathan Tate Cooper was born July 12, 1983 in Big Stone Gap, Va. ... son of Tom and Connie Cooper ... a criminal justice major.
Cooper[apos]s Year-By-Year StatisticsYr.Avg.G-GSABRH2B3BHRRBI2003.23945-381091726500112004.26845-14711619301152005Did not play - Sat out season due to NCAA transfer rulesTotals.25090-52180334580126