Cooper Barkate, Miami WR: the 2026 season story
Cooper Barkate is a senior wide receiver for Miami (ACC). He ranks 53rd of 988 wide receivers in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every wide receiver on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Cooper Barkate's strongest measure is catch rate at 80%, 15th of 485 (the average is 61%). His weakest is target share at 15%, 283rd of 485 (the average is 17%).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His receiving yards per game, 53, ranks 118th among 485 ranked wide receivers.
Against every wide receiver
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of wide receiver he is. Among ranked wide receivers he sits, on average, in the 59th percentile for volume, 96th for efficiency and 76th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 9 games, Cooper Barkate's best came in week 10 at Notre Dame and his quietest in week 3 at Wake Forest.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Cooper Barkate is 48th of 485 FBS wide receivers and 8th of 57 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Que'Sean Brown of Virginia Tech, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2024 at Harvard, 29th of 796 wide receivers.
Wide receivers like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Talyn Taylor of Georgia.
