NC State’s Starting Nickel Tamarcus Cooley is Entering the Transfer Portal

NC State starting Redshirt Freshman Nickel Tamarcus Cooley is entering the Transfer Portal. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

BREAKING: NC State starting DB Tamarcus Cooley plans to enter the Transfer Portal, per his rep @bzsportsmgmt

The 6’0 200 DB totaled 39 Tackles, 9 PBU, 2 FF, & 3 INT this season

Highest graded player on NC State’s defense (PFF)

3 years of eligibility https://t.co/RlUbB6Fk7q pic.twitter.com/nYxWJxSYFb

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 3, 2025

On December 9th, it was announced that Cooley had re-signed with Savage Wolves to return to NC State in 2025. Apparently, Cooley has had a change of mind.

In his first season of college football, Cooley made quite the splash. After transferring from Maryland this offseason, he entered the season as the Wolfpack’s backup Nickel to Senior Ja’Had Carter. The upperclassmen left the program on October 14th, making room for Cooley in the #1 spot, but Cooley was already outplaying him before that.

Cooley was the 2nd highest graded player on NC State’s defense (75.5), and the highest graded Defensive Back (80.8).

He finished his Redshirt Freshman season with 39 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interception (tied for the most on the team), 2 forced fumbles and 6 pass breakups.

Cooley is 1 of 13 NC State players to enter the Transfer Portal this year.

TE Juice Vereen – UCONN
WR KC Concepcion – Texas A&M
WR Jakolbe Baldwin – Marshall
LB Cannon Lewis – Marshall
DT DJ Jackson – Liberty
LB Jayland Parker – Marshall
DE Red Hibbler – Mississippi St.
OL Sean Hill – Tulsa
WR Jalen Coit
OL Obadiah Obasuyi
LB Wyatt Wright
CB Brandon Cisse
Nickel Tamarcus Cooley