Christian Heritage’s Cooper Middleton has become a regular on the website. Last season, the 2027 linebacker earned two top play awards, and last week, Middleton earned a top performer spotlight after nabbing 15 tackles in a big 35-31 win over Gordon Lee.
The All-State senior’s big Week 7 earned him Player of the Week honors on the site. The performance, although great, is a microcosm of Middleton’s season. He’s posted 75 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, 2 recovered, 9 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, plus blocking a field goal and a punt. That’s elite production in 6 games.
“Our season has been going great! We are 5-1 so far this year and have a good shot to win the region this year. We will have to win out, and some other teams will have to lose, but it is very possible,” Middleton said.
Christian Heritage’s sole loss was a 31-28 defeat to Fannin County, but looking ahead to the next four region games, the Lions have a tremendous chance to run the table. For Middleton, the team’s success is of the utmost importance, saying, “I would love for us to win region and host a playoff game and win. Then after that make it as far as possible.”
Middleton has earned interest from a slew of programs like Shorter, Berry, UVA-Wise, Cornell, Georgia Tech, and UT-Chattanooga, with several more programs in pursuit. A wide range of schools target the 2027 linebacker. For one, his insatiable energy is matched by his dedication to make the right play. Middleton is often in the right place, and if not, he’s hustling his tail off to be there. The high IQ allows Middleton to line up across the defense in multiple looks, which is a major advantage for the Lions.
“I play a field-to-field type of backer with speed and good reads and footwork. This would allow me to be able to play multiple positions in college; I have been told I would play inside, outside, nickel, or even safety by different colleges. I have a high football IQ that allows me to lead others on the field and make sure we are lined up correctly. This allows me to be versatile and be a playmaker,” he said.
For upcoming college visits, Middleton said he plans to visit UVA-Wise at soon, but besides that, he’s just operating week-to-week. Earlier this season, he did visit Shorter and Berry.
No doubt, the senior linebacker has interest from programs at almost every level of play, which you genuinely don’t often see. That suggests college evaluators see a lot of potential in Middleton, especially with his crazy motor and great academics, boasting a 4.36 GPA. He should become a major asset for a D1 program that will impact a winning culture.
Middleton’s nose for the football, and often the propensity to put it on the ground, suggest that he could be an instant impact player on special teams. His recruitment will be exciting to follow down the recruiting stretch, so follow @RecruitGeorgia on Twitter/X to see more on Middleton and players across the state.
