Clemson QB Cooper to transfer to Jacksonville State

Former Clemson quarterback Zerrick Cooper, who lost out on the starting job last season to Kelly Bryant, announced he will attend Jacksonville State next season. By dropping down to a team in the Football Championship Subdivision, Cooper will be able to play immediately. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Cooper (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) is a former four-star recruit from Jonesboro, Ga., who picked Clemson over Florida and Kentucky. He was the primary backup to Bryant last season, completing 25 of 41 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Clemson also lost another quarterback this week -- Tucker Israel, who announced Monday that he will transfer after earning his degree. He did not play last season after appearing briefly in 2016. Israel has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Despite the departures, Clemson is still stacked at quarterback, led by Bryant, who will be a senior in 2018. He will be chased by a pair of second-year players -- former five-star prospect Hunter Johnson and Chase Brice, who redshirted in 2017. Johnson completed 21 of 27 passes in a backup role. Also in the mix is early-enrolled true freshman Trevor Lawrence, rated the No. 1 recruit in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.