Cade Cooper's athleticism, character, and academic drive captivate Notre Dame, positioning him as a game-changer on and off the field.
Notre Dame is looking to land another big time wide receiver class in the 2027 recruiting cycle, and one of the top targets is Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep standout Cade Cooper. The 6-3, 190-pound pass catcher was a bit of a later offer, but it's clear that he is now one of several talented players the Irish staff is looking to land in this class.
Notre Dame receivers coach Mike Brown went out and saw Cooper during the winter visit period, and the Pennsylvania wideout quickly set up an impromptu unofficial visit to see the Irish up close. That visit, and his time with Brown, left a very strong impression according to Malvern Prep head coach Dave Guereira.
"He still raves about the Notre Dame trip,” Guereira told Irish Breakdown. "His talent, character and the way he was raised is well-suited to Notre Dame. He fits with the way the overall culture of academics and athletics are stressed. Part of it was Coach (Marcus) Freeman and wanting to be part of doing something special. He fell in love with it."
Guereira fell in love with the talented pass-catcher the first time he saw him on the gridiron in 7th grade at St. Thomas Catholic. As was the case with Notre Dame's first impression on Cooper, the talented young pass catcher made a strong first impression on his eventual head coach.
"I remember seeing him at St. Thomas in the 7th grade," Guereira stated. "He was taller than all of the other kids and you have to project where a kid is going to end up as a junior. But, when I saw him move, he was like a baby deer running. He was so fluid and physical for his frame. I was super impressed.
"We play the hardest schedule in the state," Guereira continued. "So, we need guys that are physically and mentally strong in our program. Parents see us as a college and NFL factory, which we are, but we work really hard to find out about the families and character of the kids that we take. We don’t want talented kids that don’t fit our culture."
Cooper has not stopped impressing his high school coach. He is considered the a leader of the Malvern Prep program due to how he works and how he carries himself in the classroom, the wide receiver room, the community and in front of his teammates. He’s already the best wide receiver in the state, but the Friars are excited about what he’s going to bring to their defense in the fall.
"He’s so athletic and getting better," Guereira explained. "I’m impressed by his dedication to the craft of the game. He’s a sponge and wants to know everything from everybody. I’m excited for people to see him as a full-time safety this year. He’s the unquestioned leader of our team and he does it both ways. He leads by example and not afraid to say what needs to be said to his teammates when it’s needed. He’s the hardest worker in our program and that helps us as coaches tremendously.
"He works even harder off the field," continued the Malvern Prep head coach. "He’s a great student, and a great human being. He’s so honest and empathetic with his teammates and in the community."
As the Malvern Prep star's recruitment speeds to the decision stage, Guereira remains ready when called upon by the family for his consultation and wisdom. He’s been through this process with plenty of top targets over the years and his involvement depends on the individual player.
"Cade and his family are doing a great job," Guereira shared. "They know exactly what they want and he has a lot of great options. Whenever they ask me something, I give my honest assessment. The one thing I told him is to trust his gut. You’re the one that has to get up for 5 am workouts, so you better go where it feels right."
But, this process is one that has him ecstatic about his athlete’s future and a bit somber about Malvern Prep’s future without him.
"I don’t want to think about it," Guereira replied. "He means so much to me personally and I’m going to miss our relationship and what he stands for. This program is going to miss him a lot, because his impact on the coaches has been even greater. You have once in a lifetime talents, but the combination of talent and people at that level doesn’t happen often. That’s who he is.
"He helped the culture," Guereira continued. "We don’t call them 50-50 balls anymore. We just say, 'Cade has it'."
Cooper has a strong connection on the current Irish roster in freshman safety Joey O'Brien, who was a 7-on-7 teammate of Cooper's this past summer. That aids in the level of comfort he felt back in January, and will continue during his March 28th spring visit and return for his official visit June 12-14.
Led by Brown, the Fighting Irish staff have done an incredible job making Cooper and his family feel prioritized, and that puts them right at the top amongst others like Penn State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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