Cooper Perry, In His Words: Why I Chose Cal

Hey Cal fans, my name is Cooper Perry‍ and I’m a sophomore transfer wide receiver at Cal.

I was born in Maine and lived there with my family and my brother until I was seven years old. At that point, we made the move across the country to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Growing up, my parents always encouraged me to stay active and try different sports. I played just about everything, but football quickly became one of my favorites. I started with flag football before moving to tackle football in third grade. A few years later, in fifth grade, I picked up lacrosse and immediately fell in love with the sport. For a long time, lacrosse was actually my main sport and the one I thought I would pursue the furthest.

Although, as I got older, football started to become a bigger part of my life. By the time I reached high school, I was playing both sports at a high level, but I began to realize the opportunities football could provide. My freshman year playing varsity football was the first time I started to think about getting recruited. My sophomore year everything changed. I had a breakout season and the thoughts of getting recruited quickly turned into a reality. I started receiving scholarship offers from numerous Power Four programs. Every offer motivated me to continue improving and proved that the sacrifices I was making were paying off. It was the first time I truly believed that playing college football at the highest level was a possibility for me. As I continued through high school, the recruiting process taught me a lot about gratification, patience, and believing in yourself. 

Since arriving at UC Berkeley, my experience has been incredibly positive, both on and off the field. This past spring was an exciting time for our football program. During spring football, we began building the foundation of what we want this team to become. We were installing a new offense, which meant everyone was learning together and working through challenges as a group. As a transfer, I also began forming relationships with the coaching staff and my teammates. Toward the end of spring football, you could really see the chemistry developing and the offense beginning to click. Every day we became more comfortable with the program and more confident in one another. 

In this transition, one of the things that was already familiar was Coach Tosh from my freshman year at Oregon. Going against Coach Tosh’s defense every day in practice my freshman year, I witnessed firsthand his intelligence, attention to detail, and unique understanding of the game. Now that he has stepped into the role of head coach here at Cal, I’ve been able to see another side of him. He cares deeply about developing players not only as athletes but also as young men. He challenges us to be accountable, disciplined, and committed to improving every day. Coach Tosh also encourages us to take advantage of the valuable resources that are available to student-athletes here at UC Berkeley, resources that extend far beyond football. Whether it’s academic support, networking opportunities, or connecting with successful people from different industries, there are so many resources available to help students succeed. 

I also want to acknowledge the critical role of our position coaches and coordinators. They bring energy, knowledge, and passion every day. They demand excellence while also helping us grow and learn. The everyday culture they’ve helped create is one where everyone is focused on getting better and helping the team succeed. 

As for this upcoming season, I truly believe we have the pieces in place to accomplish something special. We have talented players, a strong culture, and an impeccable coaching staff. Most importantly, our team is fully invested in what we’re trying to achieve. Everyday, everyone is working toward the same goal, and that level of commitment is what separates good teams from great ones.

This fall, Cal fans can expect to see a team that plays hard, competing every snap. A team that continues to improve every week and plays with confidence, toughness, and energy. Personally, I’m looking forward to showing Cal fans who I am as a player and what our team is capable of accomplishing this fall. 

Another reason this upcoming year is so special to me personally, is because my younger brother, Gunnar Perry, will be joining me at Cal. Seeing him commit to Berkeley was a dream come true for our family. We have always been extremely close, and the opportunity to continue our football journeys together at the same university is something we’ll never take for granted. I’m excited to watch him grow as a player, experience everything Berkeley has to offer, and make his own impact on the program. 

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