Former Florida Gator wide receiver Riley Cooper has made a decision that involves him giving up the game he loved and had dreams of playing professional baseball, so he can focus on straight football.

During the Senior Bowl practices yesterday, Gatorsportsnation was in Mobile, AL. to cover the event and listened to Cooper tell all the reporters that he will not be playing baseball this spring. Last August, Cooper was drafted in the 25th round by the Texas Rangers and also signed a professional contract.

Gator Report said he declined at the time to disclose financial terms of his contract, reports gathered from Baseball America said Cooper received a $250,000 signing bonus which was paid in full and is $100,000 more than the MLB recommended the maximum for players who are selected above the fifth round of the draft. Not to mention that the Rangers organization paid Coopers tuition at UF during the fall semester.

January 17 is when Cooper was expected to report with the Rangers and also would of collected his first half of his signing bonus. Cooper said that he did not get any money because he did not meet up with the Rangers. His father Larry said it was a dream of his to play pro baseball but as the football season went on and Cooper had so much success, he knew he had a tough decision to make.

We know Riley will make a heck of an NFL receiver and GSN wishes him the best of luck.

(Info gathered from Antonya English/Gator Report.)