Jets’ Receivers- Fly High

MADISON- The playoff bound James Clemens Jets are rolling into the post-season with a 7-3 overall record winning the Region 4 title with a 6-1 record. It’s certainly been a team effort up and down the gridiron with every aspect of the team performing to tip-top proportions.

Two of the most prized offensive talents for the Jets are receivers Ty Doughty and Devon Cooper. Each has accepted their role providing explosiveness each time they put their hands on the ball. The two speedsters have accounted for over 1,300 yards and a dozen touchdowns of the Jets’ offense in 2023.

“We’re really close friends as during summer workouts we worked out a lot together in preparation for this season,” said Cooper.

“Devon and I, along with the entire team, have had discipline throughout the season and are hard workers that has paid off on the field,” added Doughty.

For Doughty (WR, 5-9, 162, Jr.) through nine games of the season he had 66 touches of the ball for 865 yards with eight touchdowns along with two scores on punt returns. He carries a 4.0 grade point average in the classroom and, with a time of 4.4 in the 40-yard sprint, along with Cooper, is regarded as the fastest on the team. “I feel I do the little things right and I try and be a leader on the offense,” said Doughty. “I have good hands, run good routes and once I catch the ball I’m good at making would-be tacklers miss. With my quickness, I’m explosive when I get the ball.”

“We get a lot of yards after a catch and our offense is set up to find a way to get the ball in our hands,” said Cooper (WR, 5-6, 150, Sr.), who has accumulated over 400 yards with a half-dozen touchdowns from over 20 catches. He’s also had a kickoff return for a score. “We get double-teamed a lot and that opens up the run game for us. We try and run easier routes, which gets the ball in our hands quicker.”

Cooper began playing youth football at age seven playing in Monrovia. His father, Reginald Cooper, is an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at Liberty Middle School. He, too, has a 4.4 time in the 40 and also played basketball until his sophomore year in school where he has a 3.41 grade point average. He has the unique talent of being able to solve a Rubik’s Cube in five minutes or less.

Entertaining offers from schools such as MTSU, Tennessee State and Alabama State, Cooper is looking to make his studies in business once arriving on whichever campus he decides to step onto, but his chance to play collegiate football almost ended two years ago.

“I sat out my entire sophomore year due to suffering severe tendinitis in my knees,” explained Cooper. “I wore a boot on my leg one at a time while swapping out one leg with another. I underwent numerous therapy treatments, too, and I even tried playing through the pain, but I just couldn’t.”

Doughty is looking at college programs at several schools and is looking to get into the field of medicine, possibly as an orthopedic surgeon. As a youth athlete, he participated in soccer, baseball and basketball along with youth football through the program at Madison Academy. When he began his play in the eighth grade, Doughty first played wide receiver and he has stopped.

Doughty is very active at the Church of Christ on the Highway where he handles the duties of reading the closing prayer at most Sunday services. He prays before each game with his effort to keep him safe. Away from the football field and his deep Christian values, Doughty also possess the talents of playing the piano and being able to juggle.

“I’ve always been short in stature and had to work harder to try and equal the playing field,” added Doughty.

As the Jets prep for the playoffs, it’s safe to say the twin receivers of Doughty and Cooper give James Clemens an edge against any opponent with such explosiveness every time they touch the ball.