Cooper Rush has stepped up as the interim starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys following Dak Prescott’s unfortunate hamstring injury, which will require surgery and put him out for the remainder of the season. Despite Prescott being the highest-paid player in NFL history, the Cowboys will now put their trust in Rush to guide the team through the rest of the year.
A native of Charlotte, Michigan, born in November 1993, Rush spent his formative years growing up in Lansing, Michigan, which is about 20 miles northeast of his birthplace. He attended Lansing Catholic High School, a small institution with around 500 students, where he made a name for himself as a standout quarterback. During his junior and senior years, he helped lead his team to consecutive undefeated seasons in 2010 and 2011, earning recognition for setting state records, including throwing five touchdowns in a single quarter.
Throughout his high school career, Rush compiled impressive statistics, amassing 7,248 passing yards and 80 touchdown passes, along with 1,438 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns.
After high school, Rush was recognized as a three-star recruit and received offers from several colleges. He chose to play at Central Michigan University, where he redshirted during his freshman year and took over as the starting quarterback in 2013. His tenure at Central Michigan was marked by significant achievements, including leading the team to three bowl games and posting a total of 12,894 passing yards, 90 passing touchdowns, and 55 interceptions across his college career.
Though he went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Rush signed with the Dallas Cowboys, spending three seasons on the practice squad before briefly joining the New York Giants in 2020. He was soon re-signed by the Cowboys, where he has since appeared in 31 career games.
This new chapter for Rush offers a valuable opportunity for him to showcase his talents on a grand stage and provide hope for Cowboys fans as they rally behind their team. His journey from high school standout to being thrust into the starting role underscores the unpredictable nature of sports, but can also inspire aspiring athletes to persevere in chasing their dreams, no matter the obstacles they face.