Alabama WR Amari Cooper sets new SEC single-season receptions record
ATLANTA -- Amari Cooper was the man of the hour on Saturday at the SEC Championship Game. But success from the Alabama receiver is nothing new.
With his 10th catch of the game, Cooper set a new SEC single-season receptions record with 113 grabs. He passed Vanderbilt's Jordan Matthews, who set the record with 112 in 2013.
On his way to setting the new SEC receptions record, Cooper caught at least 10 passes in five games. He started the season with a 12-catch game against West Virginia in the Georgia Dome, and then followed that by hauling in 13 passes the following week against Florida Atlantic.
Cooper pulled down 10 passes against Florida, 13 in the Iron Bowl against Auburn and has 10 thus far in the SEC title game.
If you're keeping track at home, 12.2 percent (22 receptions) of Cooper's catches this season have come in the Georgia Dome. Cooper also caught eight passes in the 2012 SEC Championship Game to bring his career total in the Georgia Dome to 30.
Congrats 2 @AmariCooper9 on the record! Couldn't ask for a better player to represent that accomplishment! Go get my career yards too!
— Jordan Matthews (@jmattjmattjmatt) December 6, 2014
But Cooper might not be done breaking records.
Florida receiver Anthony Reidel set the SEC Championship Game record for receptions in a title game with 11 back in 1996.
Cooper waited until the fourth quarter to break Reidel's record.
With 9:25 left in the game, Cooper caught a quick 5-yard slant pass from Blake Sims to become the all-time receptions leader in an SEC Championship Game with 12.
