Rolesville football standout, an NC State commit, stays Cool in multi-dimensional role

When Rolesville High’s football players and coaches call out to Tamarcus Cooley on the practice field, they shout, “T-Mac!” Maybe, though, they should consider “Cool” as a fitting nickname.

And not just as a play off his surname.

After all, the 6-foot-1, 187-pound all-around athlete has coolly responded to the Rams asking him to fill many roles this year.

Wide receiver.

Cool. That’s fine with him.

Running back.

Cool.

Defensive back.

Cool.

“We play him all over the field,” Rolesville head coach Richard Shuping said. “We even put him at quarterback when we had an injury.”

Cool.

“Anything that helps the team, I’m willing to do,” Cooley said. “I like it.”

His busy role for the Rams continues in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs that open this weekend. Rolesville (7-3), seeded 11th in the East Region and ranked No. 6 in the News & Observer Sweet 16, plays host to No. 22 seed Overhills (7-3) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Overhills is a Spring Lake school that finished third in the All-American Conference behind Pine Forest and Terry Sanford. Rolesville was third in the Northern Conference behind Millbrook and Wake Forest.

When Cooley mentioned the word “team,” he said it with more conviction than the Rams were able to at the start of the season. The players learned the hard way that team chemistry was lacking when they began the season up and down with a 2-2 record.

Rolesville won its opener 52-28 win over Pinecrest, but the victory required overcoming a 14-0 deficit. The next week was an embarrassing 49-0 loss to East Forsyth (the No. 4 seed in the West Regional with a 10-0 record). The Rams bounced back to beat East Wake 48-7, but then lost to Hillside 43-28.

Rolesville won four in a row and five of six to close out the regular season. The loss was to No. 3 seed Wake Forest (8-2), 24-20.

“We had to become a team,” Cooley said. “We had some disagreements early in the year, but it got better over time. We had to have more leadership. The main players had to speak up. We’re all cool with each other now.”

That leadership came from seniors Noah Rogers, Carsten Casady, Dejuan Mickens and Jordan Monroe. Cooley also is a senior, but he was a transfer from Knightdale new to the team.

“I couldn’t say much, and I’m more of a leader by example,” he said. “I try to set a positive attitude on the field with the way I practice and play.”

Cooley’s versatility for the Rams also was reflected on the recruiting trail. Of the 23 schools listed on his Rivals.com profile as having offered the 3-star prospect a scholarship, the positions spanned wide receiver, running back and defensive back.

Schools pursuing him from the Carolinas included N.C. State, North Carolina, East Carolina, Appalachian State, Charlotte, South Carolina and Coastal Carolina. Other Power 5 offers were from Florida, Mississippi State, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

He said he entered the recruiting process with Ohio State as his “dream school” and North Carolina as the school he grew up following as a fan. Ultimately, though, he committed to N.C. State. The Wolfpack recruited him on defense, but don’t assume that was the factor tipping the scales.

“It didn’t really matter what position I was recruited because I think I can be successful at any position,” Cooley said. “As I started building relationships during recruiting, I didn’t have a dream school anymore. That stuff goes out the window. It was a matter of finding the school I felt was the best fit. I felt comfortable with N.C. State and the coaches.”

The Wolfpack coveted him for his defensive skills to play man-to-man coverage, pursuit to the ball, physicality making tackles and ability to go up and challenge wide receivers for the 50-50 ball.

“They like him for the same reasons we do,” Shuping said. “They think they can put him at safety, corner, nickel and maybe outside linebacker. And if they need him on offense, they can play him there, too.”

And if the Wolfpack do so out of preference or need, Cooley will be cool with that.