Sports Illustrated Kids - USA (2022-03 & 2022-04)

4 8 / SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS

Tr e n d i n g

Written off as too small in high

school, the Super Bowl MVP

went into the laboratory and

built himself into one of the most

dangerous players in the NFL.

By Greg Bishop

L

ast spring, Cooper Kupp moved to a

Portland suburb and transformed a

backyard tennis court into a barn that

doubled as a football laboratory. The

goal was to explore the science that

drives elite receivers and figure out how he could

use that information to make himself better.

Kupp had turf put in by the same expert that

local sports teams used. He added a “curve”

treadmill for speedwork; a “timing gate” that

COOPER

TRIPLE THREAT

Kupp became just the

fourth player since 1970 to

lead the league in catches,

receiving yards, and

TD receptions.

Photograph by

Simon Bruty

LOS ANGELES RAMS WIDE RECEIVER