Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper broke the Crimson Tide's single-game receiving record with 224 yards Saturday night as Alabama beat Tennessee 34-20. Cooper, a junior and one of the elite NFL prospects at his position in the college game, caught nine passes for his second 200-yard game of the season, and scored two touchdowns.
For awhile, it looked like Cooper might have the record by halftime. After just one quarter, Cooper had five catches for 185 yards, and took his first catch 80 yards for a touchdown. The Tennessee offense found its groove thereafter and was able to limit Alabama's possessions, and thus Cooper's second-half production. Cooper averaged 24.9 yards per catch on the day. For the year, he now has 1,132 yards, setting a single-season career high, and nine touchdowns.
Cooper broke a mark held by former Alabama star Julio Jones, who had 12 catches for 221 yards against the Volunteers in 2010, also in Knoxville.
Cooper will decide at the end of the season whether to turn pro early and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
Tennessee got a strong performance from quarterback Josh Dobbs, who played for the injured Justin Worley. Dobbs threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and added 75 rushing yards.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
