(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] The LosAngeles Rams' Brandin Cooks

blisters NFL secondarieswith a lead speed,

quickness,

and productivity.

The Oregon State record-setting receiver

and All-American alsolearned to dodge grief,

after losing his dad to aheart attack as a six-year-old.

Determined.. competitive.. and focused,

Brandin takes aim.

Putting opponents toflight in the game he plays

and the life he lives.

- [Interviewer] Firstplayer in NFL history

to do back-to-back-to-backthousand-yard seasons

with three different teams;

Saints,

Patriots,

Rams.. all winning programs.

How has that helped shape you?

- [Brandin] You know,

it helped me just to ventup that.. mental toughness.

Going from different teams,

you know,

with the Saints and New England,

built me.. to come here at the Rams

and continue to just.. do that.

But at the same timeI've also been blessed

with great coaches,

great quarterbacks.

It's not all on my doing,

but even though the guys

that surround me tohelp me.. be successful.

- [Interviewer] If you hadto defend.. Brandin Cooks--

- [Brandin] Yeah.

give me a scouting report.

(dramatic piano sound)

- [Brandin] You knowthat's a good question.

It's really.. scouting our team,

you know.

And how coach McVay..sets us up for success

and put us in positions to succeed.

And having a great coach like that,

it'd be pretty tough to scout myself

or just other guys in general

just because it's always so different.

Well I can't give you toomuch because you know,

just in case our viewers are my defenders.

- [Interviewer] Defense is it's always

about neutralizing that opponent.

- [Brandin] Yeah.

- [Interviewer] How criticalis speed to give you control?

- [Brandin] It is very critical,

especially in.. my positionand.. my type of play.

Being able to have speed,

they should be able tosometime blow the top off

and help my teammates get an okay,

you know.

Sometimes those are those type of games

that has to be had.

So if I can take the top off

and draw defenders nearme to open up other guys,

I think that's very important.

- [Interviewer] You lostyour dad when you were six.

- [Brandin] Uh-huh.

- [Interviewer] How did youfind fathering while growing up?

- [Brandin] I had such great.. friends

with dads around me,

you know,

like my track coach,

my.. football coaches.

(loud screeching sound)

And I think it was one of those things

that I always just pickedpieces.. from different families

and people that had ahuge impact in my life,

whether it was coaches ormy best friend's parents.

And so it was just one of those things

that.. it had to be dynamic.

But then my mom also playedthat father role as well.

- [Interviewer] Brandin,

how have you turned adversity around?

- [Brandin] I always try tolook at the brighter side

and find joy,

whether it's like losingmy father when I was young.

I think it's one of those things.

Any time you can try your hardest

to find joy in the negative,

I think you always comeout on the positive

and that's just been my mindset.

- [Interviewer] And theycalled you Sonic Boom--

- [Brandin] I don't know (laughs)--

- [Interviewer] in Pop Warnerbut you didn't hang onto it.

- [Brandin] Yeah.

- [Interviewer] But you'vesince been christened,

The Archer.

Your celebration in the end-zones,

at one point,

was the arrow to the sky.

- [Brandin] Yeah.

- [Interviewer] Why doesthat resonate with you?

- [Brandin] You know it resonates with me

because it's one of myfavorite verses in the Bible.

It's Psalm 144:6,

"Send fourth lightning,

scatter the enemy,

and shoot your arrows and route them."

So fitting with what I do.

I also wanted to go andfind God in a different way.

You know a lot of peoplecross their chest.

I just want them to comeup with unique ways to go

and find God with thegift that he's given me.

- [Interviewer] They say that Ishmael--

- [Brandin] (laughs)

- [Interviewer] lived for the hunt.

- [Brandin] Yeah.

- [Interviewer] So.. Brandin..what is in your hunt?

What are you hunting for in this journey?

- [Brandin] I encourage others around me.

And you know,

one of my favorite prayersbefore the game is,

"May people miss me and see him in me."

If at least one soul is saved..through the way that I play.

That's my goal in life isjust to be the best I can be

for others around me.

Although we all know no one's perfect.

But that's why his grace isso sufficient in my life.

And where he's brought mefrom is where he's taking me,

and you know,

where he has me now is so special.

I just wanna give him that glory.

(crowd talking)

- [Interviewer] How have you

made your Christ following contagious,

enthusiastic,

genuine?

- [Brandin] I think just being me.

And really takingadvantage of opportunities

when they come up,

and not (soft screechingsound) trying to force them.

I think that.. beingin the locker room too

with so many different personalities,

the last thing guys want is.. people

kinda forcing it to them.

And I think that peoplehave questions.. great.

And also sparking thoseconversations as well.

Being who I am and alsoletting people know

that I'm not perfect,

and that I have a lot of problems.

And I think that's just thebest way to go about it.

- [Interviewer] Most recently.. something

that he's sustaining youwith as encouragement.

- [Brandin] That's a great one.

I would like to say.. focus.

I feel him when he was on the boat

and he had his eyes fixed on Jesus.

He was performing miracles.

You know,

he walked on water at one point.

But when he got distracted..from all the outside noise

and everything else going around him,

and didn't keep his eyes fixed on Jesus,

you know.. he sank.

Consistently on my mind iskeeping my eyes fixed on Jesus,

no matter what is going on in life.

(short screeching sound)