On December 7, 2017 (wow, that’s last year, now), Nashville SC announced their second big group of signings, that included Kosuke Kimura, Taylor Washington, and Michael Cox, in addition to Carl Howard Cochran, Jr, better known as CJ Cochran. Cochran, 26, was born in Alpharetta, Georgia, and played college soccer at Georgia State from 2011 to 2014. Cochran played 4345 minutes for the Panthers in 48 games as a starter. Cochran has the third-most clean sheets for Georgia State, with 11, and has the lowest goals-against-average for the Panthers across a player’s entire season. While playing for Georgia State, Cochran won Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week in back-to-back weeks his freshmen year, becoming the first player in school history to do so. He also won Sun Belt and College Sports Madness Defensive Player of the Week awards, while racking up 188 saves, the 6th-most among all Panthers.

After graduating, Cochran signed with the Atlanta Silverbacks for the 2015 season, where he kept one clean sheet in eight appearances for Atlanta. After the Silverbacks failed to continue play in 2016, Cochran left for Oklahoma City Energy. In his two seasons with the Energy, Cochran made 17 apps in all appearances, with four starts coming during the US Open Cup, and three in the 2017 USL Playoffs. Cochran kept five clean sheets playing for OKC, two of which came in the USL Playoffs. That stat alone is impressive; Cochran started three games in the USL Playoffs, and even with all the added pressure, he kept clean sheets in two of those three games, taking OKC to the conference final, where they lost on PKs to Swope Park.

And so we arrive at the acquisition of Cochran by the Nashville SC Front Office. Cochran joins a squad that had already signed Matt Pickens, so why pick up Cochran? Let’s be honest here for a second: at age 26, he does not have a whole lot of experience playing in the USL or NASL at goalkeeper. However, it is important to note that goalkeepers peak at a later age than every other player on the pitch, and can keep playing longer than any other player as well. Goalkeepers tend not to peak in their careers until they reach their early 30s, with some not peaking until their mid-30s. Tim Howard, one of the US Men’s National Team goalkeeping pair, turns 39 this year, and is still anchoring the defense for Matt Pickens’ and Gary Smith’s old team, the Colorado Rapids. Brad Guzan, the other member of that pair, is 33, and came off a fantastic half-season with Atlanta United. The simple fact of the matter is that goalkeepers tend to get better and better year after year as they gain crucial experience in being able to read attacker’s runs and spot holes in their defense to shore up. Younger keepers tend to benefit greatly under the tutelage of the more experienced, and Cochran has a wonderful opportunity to learn from Matty P in this team. But, let’s not expect Cochran to just be a benchwarmer, who only comes in if Matt is injured; this is a keeper who can win games, now.

At 6-foot 4-inches tall, Cochran is an imposing figure. He has long reach with those large arms and legs, and has the soccer knowledge to use them to great effect. Just check this save out:

Fantastic save. The attacker saw Cochran covering the near post to prevent a tap-in there, and figured a strike to the outside would surely go in. Cochran was able to pair quick thinking with a long right arm to get a hand on it and force it out of bounds. Cochran also is not afraid of using any part of his big frame to stop a shot. Check out this video, where Cochran does his best Scott Sterling impression:

In his most recent season, Cochran only played in 10 games during the regular USL season, but kept a clean sheet in four of those games. What a great percentage! He also saved 75.9% of shots, only conceding 7 goals.

“C.J. is possibly the most improved goalkeeper in USL over the past two years. He was instrumental in helping OKC Energy to the Western Conference Final with an outstanding penalty shootout display against San Antonio. He has great presence, is brave and has an extremely bright future.” -Gary Smith, Head Coach

And Coach Smith should know. It is no coincidence that Smith and the Front Office keep signing players that Smith has coached in the past. Smith personally knows what Cochran can contribute to this team already, and how good he can be while learning under MLS Cup-winner Matt Pickens.

If this wasn’t enough CJ Cochran for you, check out this highlight video from his playing time in Atlanta:

Look forward to seeing you on the pitch, CJ. Let’s go Nashville.