Purcellville, Va. — Loudoun Valley High School senior Cooper Thunell has made a commitment to Marshall University where he will continue his football and academic career starting in the 2020-2021 school year.
“I chose Marshall because it was my best offer,” the 6-foot-6 Thunell said. “It felt like a good fit for me.”
An important factor in Thunell’s decision was the atmosphere of college football in West Virginia.
The Marshall Thundering Herd play in the Conference USA in the NCAA Division I FBS. In 2019, the Herd finished 8-5 overall, including a 6-2 record in C-USA play. Marshall dropped all three of their marquee matchups to Cincinnati, a nationally televised game against Boise State, and a Gasparilla Bowl loss to Central Florida.
“Going to Marshall as a preferred walk-on has made me more motivated to show the coaches that I am a scholarship player.” Thunell said. “It is something to look forward to and work towards in quarantine.”
Last year, Thunell helped lead Loudoun Valley to a winning season, finishing 7-5 overall. The Vikings’ 2-3 record in the Dulles District earned them a No. 5 seed in the VHSL Region 4C. In their region quarterfinal, Loudoun Valley scored with less than 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter to upset No. 4 Handley, 13-9, before falling to No. 1 Broad Run, 28-14, in a region semifinal.
“I loved every second playing for Loudoun Valley: my coaches, my teammates, and the ups and downs of every season,” Thunell said. “We had such an amazing experience.”
After earning first team All-LoCo honors in 2019, Thunell is excited for the opportunity to take his talents to the next level.
“I love being a part of a team,” Thunell said. “It feels great, and it gives me something to look forward to.”
