Case Cookus
refer to caption
Cookus with the Edmonton Elks in 2021
Memphis Showboats
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1995-10-06) October 6, 1995
Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Thousand Oaks (CA)
College:Northern Arizona (2015–2019)
Undrafted:2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career USFL statistics as of Week 1, 2023
Passing attempts:584
Passing completions:368
Completion percentage:63.01
TD–INT:30–14
Passing yards:3840
QBR:89.1
Player stats at NFL.com

Stephen Case Cookus (born October 6, 1995), nicknamed the Chef,[1] is an American football quarterback for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). As a true freshman at Northern Arizona University, he was named the recipient of the 2015 Jerry Rice Award and the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year Award, both of which are awarded to the most outstanding freshman player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.[2][3] He holds the record for most combined passing and rushing touchdowns in a USFL game with 5, which he accomplished in a game vs the Michigan Panthers on June 5, 2022.

College career

2015

As a true freshman, Cookus began the season as the starting quarterback. After throwing for 3,111 yards and 37 touchdowns, he was named Freshman of the Year and was the winner of the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the most outstanding freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision.[4] He was also named to the All-Big Sky First-team.

2016

In the 2016 season, Cookus started the first four games of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against Eastern Washington on September 24. Against New Mexico Highlands, he tied school record of seven touchdown passes in a single game. For the season, he threw for 1,173 passing yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception.[5]

2017

Cookus made a comeback season in 2017. His best game came against Cal Poly where he completed 35 of 46 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns. For the season, he threw 275 passes on 474 attempts for 3,413 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Cookus took Northern Arizona to the playoffs, but lost 41–20 in the first round to San Diego after throwing 22 of 41 for 178 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.[6] Against Montana, Cookus was ejected for targeting after throwing a downfield block, a very rare occurrence since targeting is almost exclusively called against defensive players.[7]

2018

During the second game of the season against Eastern Washington, Cookus once again injured his shoulder while trying to run the ball. He finished the season completing 24 passes on 34 attempts for 265 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, including an 84-yard strike to wide receiver Emmanuel Butler in the season opener.[8]

Statistics

Season Team GP Passing Rushing
CmpAttPctYdsTDIntAttYdsAvgTD
2015NAU 1122232268.93,111375902092.33
2016NAU 48011967.21,17313116412.60
2017NAU 1227547458.03,41322653−14−0.32
2018NAU 2243470.6265222−23−11.50
2019NAU 1229048160.34,09531745190.41
Career[9][6]418911,43065.012,057105212062321.16

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight
6 ft 2+5⁄8 in
(1.90 m)		 205 lb
(93 kg)
Values from Pro Day[10]

New York Giants

Cookus signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2020.[11] He was waived on August 2, 2020.[12]

Denver Broncos

On May 17, 2021, Cookus signed with the Denver Broncos, but was waived three days later on May 20.[13][14]

Minnesota Vikings

On August 2, 2021, Cookus signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but was waived three days later on August 5.[15][16]

Las Vegas Raiders

On August 10, 2021, Cookus signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.[17] He was waived on August 16, 2021.[18]

Edmonton Elks

On October 20, 2021, Cookus signed with the CFL's Edmonton Elks.[19] He was released 5 days later.

Philadelphia Stars

Cookus was selected in the 12th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Philadelphia Stars.[20] He led the Stars into the championship game, but had to depart the game with a broken leg.[21]

Los Angeles Rams

On November 23, 2022, Cookus signed with the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams.[22] His practice squad contract expired when the team's season ended on January 9, 2023.

Philadelphia Stars (second stint)

On February 17, 2023, Cookus re-signed with the Philadelphia Stars.[23] The Stars folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[24]

Memphis Showboats

On January 5, 2024, Cookus was drafted by the Memphis Showboats.[25]

Statistics

USFL statistics[26]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2022PHI 9713020862.51,3346.412590.1222179.91
2023PHI 101021834762.82,2946.615985.6512785.50

Postseason

USFL statistics[26]
Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2022PHI 22274955.13557.23190.15438.61

References

  1. ↑ Larsen, James (April 16, 2023). "Philadelphia Stars Top Memphis Showboats In USFL Opener".
  2. ↑ "NAU's Case Cookus Named STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year". NAU Athletics. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Case Cookus Named Jerry Rice Award Winner". NAU Athletics. Archived from the original on June 19, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Jerry Rice Award Recipients". Jerry Rice Football. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  5. ↑ "NAU QB Cookus out for rest of season". Fox Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Case Cookus". NAU Athletics. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  7. ↑ "NAU quarterback Case Cookus was ejected for targeting against Montana". AZ Central. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Case Cookus officially ruled out for season". AP. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Case Cookus". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  10. ↑ "2020 Draft Scout Case Cookus, Northern Arizona NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  11. ↑ Eisen, Michael (April 28, 2020). "Giants sign 10 rookie free agents, waive 6 players". Giants.com.
  12. ↑ Eisen, Michael (August 2, 2020). "Giants reach NFL's new 80-man roster limit". Giants.com.
  13. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (May 17, 2021). "Broncos sign three tryout players; Calvin Anderson signs exclusive rights tender". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  14. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (May 20, 2021). "LB Alexander Johnson signs restricted free agent tender". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Vikings activate QBs Kirk Cousins, Nate Stanley off COVID-19 list, waive Case Cookus". twincities.com. August 5, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Vikings Sign QB Case Cookus; Claim QB Danny Etling via Waivers". Vikings.com. August 2, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Raiders add QB Case Cookus". Raiders.com. August 10, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Raiders make roster moves to reach 85-player limit". Raiders.com. August 16, 2021.
  19. ↑ 3Down Staff (October 20, 2021). "Let Case Cook(us): Elks sign four, including QB Case Cookus – 3DownNation". Retrieved November 2, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ↑ Heath, Jon (February 23, 2022). "3 ex-Broncos QBs selected in USFL draft". Broncos Wire. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  21. ↑ Williams, Eric. "Case Cookus' Valiant Rally For Stars Cut Short By Injury". Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  22. ↑ @RamsNFL (November 23, 2022). "LA Rams Transactions: • Signed to Practice Squad QB Case Cookus • Signed Practice Squad Veteran C Cole Toner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ↑ @USFLStars (February 17, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Twitter.
  24. ↑ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  25. ↑ Heilman, Michael (January 6, 2024). "Case Cookus is headed to the Memphis Showboats". BGMSportsTrax. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  26. 1 2 "Philadelphia Stars Team Stats". foxsports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
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