[jwplayer Yzf4Fde7]
Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks is known as “The Archer,” and the nickname comes from the Bible.
According to the former New Orleans Saints 2014 first-round pick, “The Archer” doesn’t refer to the animated comedy, but to Psalm 144:6.
“My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 144:6 ‘Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy. Shoot your arrows and rout them,'” Cooks told the Houston media on a video conference. “So, for me it’s another way to glorify God, go out there and play, and just come up with a unique way to glorify Him.”
Cooks has glorified God, and helped the Saints, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams along the way, with 618 catches for 5,730 yards and 34 touchdowns through 88 career games.
What has helped Cooks find success in the NFL is his blazing speed. According to the 26-year-old from Stockton, Calif., the speed is both God-given and also the result of discipline.
Said Cooks: “It was one of those things that a lot of people say ‘Where you born with it?’ I would say it was a little bit of both. I had to work to really get that elite speed. I remember friends growing up that were actually faster than me, and they peaked at a certain time. For me, I felt like I also had to put that work in to become fast, and I was running track since I was seven years old all the way through high school, even my freshman year of college. I think it’s just the journey and the process of track that helped me build that speed.”
The Texans can use Cooks’ speed to amplify what they already have in receiver Will Fuller, thus giving quarterback Deshaun Watson two speedy targets when he drops back. With the departure of DeAndre Hopkins, Houston sports fans are hopeful the two-time Pro Bowl signal caller will hit plenty of bullseyes with “The Archer.”
[vertical-gallery id=48893]