Amari Cooper vs. Tennessee: Stat Line, Heisman Impact and Reaction

Amari Cooper embarked on a trip to Tennessee set to make another Heisman Trophy statement, and it began on Alabama's first offensive snap.Cooper took a screen pass 80 yards for the score on the team's first offensive play en route to a historic first-quarter performance. He finished with nine catches that went for a career-best 224 yards and two touchdowns, paving the way to a 34-20 victory.Here's his final stat line:It was just another big day for Alabama wideouts against the Volunteers, as CBS Sports' Jon Solomon recounts Julio Jones setting records against Tennessee a few years back:The junior wideout scored a 54-yard touchdown on Alabama's third offensive play against Tennessee a year ago but didn't want to wait that long on Saturday night. He took a screen pass 80 yards for a touchdown on the opening play and returned for the second drive to catch a 41-yard score.By the end of the first quarter, Cooper was setting records, per ESPN Stats and Info:He wasn't nearly as potent in the second half, but after going for more than 180 in the first half, he didn't need to be. However, he still hauled in a couple of first-down grabs to increase his yardage total and set a school record.Cooper burst onto the Heisman scene early in the season and made a huge statement in a 201-yard, three-touchdown performance over Florida, but Saturday's performance was right up there with that breakout.His stats tapered off along with Alabama's team play for a two-game stretch against Ole Miss and Arkansas, but he emerged again with 140 yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M last weekend.After his explosion on Saturday, Cooper now leads the NCAA in receiving yards with 1,132 for the season. He also has two 200-plus-yard games and three multi-touchdown gamesnot too shabby.When Alabama's offense is clicking, Cooper is the main beneficiary. And despite being the focal point of every opposing defense's scouting report, he continues putting up gaudy numbers.Cooper has had his fair share of Heisman moments, and he added another on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. But he faces the ultimate test of going where no receiver has gone since Desmond Howard in 1991, and that's winning the Heisman Trophy.One Heisman voterLexington Courier-Journal's Kyle Tuckerhas moved Cooper all the way up his ballot:He also has his fair share of company. Running backs Ameer Abdullah and Melvin Gordon are peaking, while Dak Prescott and Marcus Mariota still have golden chances to get to New York City if their teams continue winning.But that's about as far as the indubitableHeisman Trophy contenders go, and Cooper's dominant receiving totals have him up there with the rest of them.The scariest part' Cooper's best chances for marquee performances are to come. Three of Alabama's toughest games are upcoming against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.Should he post another stat line like Saturday's against one of those teams, he'll likely guarantee a spot in New York City. If he does so against all of them, he'll have quite the case to be the first receiver to win the Heisman in 23 years.
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