Cooper DeJean - Iowa class of 2021

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Cooper DeJean is a 6-foot-2, 195-lb., 4-sport athlete committed to play football for the Hawkeyes. he is an explosive athlete as shown in the following basketball highlight reel.

on the football field, he has led his team to back-to-back state championships as a quarterback/defensive back/returner while putting up MONSTER numbers, albeit against lower level competition. here’s a brief rundown:

as a senior, DeJean threw for 3,447 yards and rushed for 1,235 with 59 total touchdowns (35 passing, 24 rushing). He also intercepted three passes and scored three special teams touchdowns. that’s 62 TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS in one seasons! additionally, the All-American Bowl named him the Adidas National Player of the Year. as a junior the year before, DeJean went for 4,838 total yards of offense (the second-highest single-season mark in Iowa history) and 68 total touchdowns (a state record).

of course, he’s being projected to be a safety or even a linebacker at the college level by the “experts.”

regardless of what position he ends up playing, it’ll be interesting to see what his future holds.

 

[Bucky]

I believe it was 247sports comparing him to Andrew Sendejo. Not bad but I believe DeJean has a higher ceiling athletically! He seems like a natural on offense, but if he ends up at Safety I believe he has NFL Talent.

*What a freak Athlete! Throwing those jams down with authority. Fran Mccaffrey might have to extend a spot on the Basketball Team as well!

 

[DWF Upside]

He might be in the wrong sport. The camera angle might be deceptive, but some of those look like he is dunking on a nine foot rim ( violently at that).

 

[Freethinker]

He might be in the wrong sport. The camera angle might be deceptive, but some of those look like he is dunking on a nine foot rim ( violently at that).

Yea, his vertical leaping is extremely explosive. He elevates easy off of one foot or two and dunks when you are expecting a layup. He’s listed at 6’-2” but you could easily confuse him for a guy 6’-6” watching him throw down in these highlights.

Is it lazy to compare him the Mac McClung? Similar size and athleticism.

 

[white lightning]

Yea, his vertical leaping is extremely explosive. He elevates easy off of one foot or two and dunks when you are expecting a layup. He’s listed at 6’-2” but you could easily confuse him for a guy 6’-6” watching him throw down in these highlights.

Is it lazy to compare him the Mac McClung? Similar size and athleticism.

Yes this kid should stick with basketball. Natural athlete and he makes everything look so easy. Very smooth and explosive. If he were to choose football I would prefer for him to play running back. Perfect size, speed and strength.

 

[Freethinker]

Yes this kid should stick with basketball. Natural athlete and he makes everything look so easy. Very smooth and explosive. If he were to choose football I would prefer for him to play running back. Perfect size, speed and strength.

If he wanted to, I don’t see why he couldn’t go out for both sports. I’m sure, at minimum he could be a valuable bench piece for the Iowa basketball team.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

it’s been far too long since this thread has been updated … but no longer!!!

Cooper DeJean is arguably the best all-around player in college football, and the junior cornerback /punt returner is living up to the hype as a preseason All-American.

he was recently named to the Pro Football Focus Week 5 national defensive team as a cornerback for his performance against Michigan State:

https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1708898891511259161?s=20

https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1708981938714026388?s=20

his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, wherein he broke a tackle and left two other would-be-tacklers sprawled helplessly on the ground, was the pivotal score that gave the Hawkeyes the win, and along with continued ineptitude on offense has prompted discussion about seeing DeJean playing on offense, as well.

he is without a doubt my favorite current collegiate player.

 

[Whiteathlete333]

it’s been far too long since this thread has been updated … but no longer!!!

Cooper DeJean is arguably the best all-around player in college football, and the junior cornerback /punt returner is living up to the hype as a preseason All-American.

he was recently named to the Pro Football Focus Week 5 national defensive team as a cornerback for his performance against Michigan State:

https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1708898891511259161?s=20

https://x.com/PFF_College/status/1708981938714026388?s=20

his 70-yard punt return for a touchdown, wherein he broke a tackle and left two other would-be-tacklers sprawled helplessly on the ground, was the pivotal score that gave the Hawkeyes the win, and along with continued ineptitude on offense has prompted discussion about seeing DeJean playing on offense, as well.

he is without a doubt my favorite current collegiate player.

Yet some scouting sites still don’t know if he can “handle” cornerback in the nfl. What a joke. Let’s hope they don’t move hime to safety. He is a corner, plain and simple.

 

[jimmyjerapolo]

It was mentioned in the OP, but it's even funnier to read Cooper's recruiting profile with what we know now:

Good body type at safety or offensive skill with the potential to develop into a linebacker. Terrific all-around athlete. High school quarterback that dominates and led his team to a state championship as a junior. Good speed. Out-runs angles consistently. Easy athlete that is effortless in high school. Best kid on the playground style. Shifts gears and speeds naturally as a runner. Shows natural ball skills in limited defensive snaps. Poor competition level limits evaluation. Basketball film is better athletic showcase. Explosive as a leaper. Plays well above the rim. Plays with total control of his surroundings. Great vision and special awareness. Projection calls for some imagination due to limited experience and competition level. More of a linear mover athletically. Has multi-sport, multi-positional traits that point towards an elite career ahead of him, likely at safety but potentially at linebacker. We view as a power five impact defender that will be a mid round NFL Draft pick.

It's interesting how they spend the majority of the evaluation complimenting his athleticism but still insist he should be playing LB or Safety. Textbook example of how racial slotting starts in high school and trickles up in the NFL. Thank God for Iowa, the only P5 program willing to give white corners a real shot. Most other programs would've had this kid playing another position day 1. In fact, like Riley Moss, Iowa was Cooper's only FBS offer.

It's virtually impossible that the only P5 program with multiple white DBs happens to have found the only 2 white guys in the last 20 years capable of playing the position at the NFL level. Seriously, what's more likely - that Iowa just happened to stumble upon 2 unicorns at the same time, or that there are dozens of other white CBs out there who are simply not getting the chance to play?

 

[white lightning]

Excellent post jimmyjerapolo. You echo many of our thoughts here. Maybe with the success of both of these guys other schools will take
a chance a little more often in recruiting. Moss and Dejean could be the trailblazers for other young cb's. Thank to Iowa!

 

[SneakyQuick]

The craziest thing about racial slotting is that the main perpetuators of the practice seem to be white!

I mean when mac mcClung crushed it at the dunk competition, several black athletes acknowledged how good he was.

I think generally speaking black guys will acknowledge when a white guy plays a sport well. Not to the point where they think they are inferior to whites in some way, but at least players seem to offer that level of respect.


If like a Darrell green or a Deion sanders had great things to say about a white cornerback it would prob do more to change perception than anything else, given DWF belief system at present.

Not holding my breath for that to happen, just saying it would be great

 

[jphoss]

It was mentioned in the OP, but it's even funnier to read Cooper's recruiting profile with what we know now:

It's interesting how they spend the majority of the evaluation complimenting his athleticism but still insist he should be playing LB or Safety. Textbook example of how racial slotting starts in high school and trickles up in the NFL. Thank God for Iowa, the only P5 program willing to give white corners a real shot. Most other programs would've had this kid playing another position day 1. In fact, like Riley Moss, Iowa was Cooper's only FBS offer.

It's virtually impossible that the only P5 program with multiple white DBs happens to have found the only 2 white guys in the last 20 years capable of playing the position at the NFL level. Seriously, what's more likely - that Iowa just happened to stumble upon 2 unicorns at the same time, or that there are dozens of other white CBs out there who are simply not getting the chance to play?

Great post! This right here perfectly illustrates the racist nature of recruiting. Riley Moss and Cooper DeJean will both be all americans and 2-3 round picks. That no other program recruited them is despicable meanwhile all these coaches travel to the backwaters of mississippi or alabama in search of this magical “upside”. But there are thousands of kids like this out there who will never get the opportunity because of racial discrimination

 

[Bucky]

Safe to say DeJean has exceeded all our expectations!

Gotta love the caste evidence that was dug up. Almost Racially slotting the best CB in the country to LB seems silly, doesn’t it?!

 

[SneakyQuick]

I think cornerback is psychologically important because it is said that cornerbacks are the best athletes in the league.

I don’t know this to be true but it seems to be the conventional wisdom.

So allowing whitey to break in there somehow would do a lot to challenge that perception, way more than even at wideout or running back.

I think that is why it must remain sacrosanct


I’m the last few years Kupp and CMac have proven that whitey can play those positions and be best in the league. Despite that you don’t see a flood of new white guys playing wideout or running back.

There are plenty of them on college rosters but they rarely get playing time.


Kudos to these dudes from iowa. They are competing against the toughest stereotype in football

 

[Rocky B]

I’m (for some reason) watching this crap Thirsday night game.
Is there anyone who really thinks Moss and DeJean wouldn’t crush at corner.... Washington can’t cover a twelve year old. Fields has open receivers everywhere. I wish Daniel Jones had half of this opportunity.
The NFL seems compromised.

 

[Leonardfan]

It was mentioned in the OP, but it's even funnier to read Cooper's recruiting profile with what we know now:

It's interesting how they spend the majority of the evaluation complimenting his athleticism but still insist he should be playing LB or Safety. Textbook example of how racial slotting starts in high school and trickles up in the NFL. Thank God for Iowa, the only P5 program willing to give white corners a real shot. Most other programs would've had this kid playing another position day 1. In fact, like Riley Moss, Iowa was Cooper's only FBS offer.

It's virtually impossible that the only P5 program with multiple white DBs happens to have found the only 2 white guys in the last 20 years capable of playing the position at the NFL level. Seriously, what's more likely - that Iowa just happened to stumble upon 2 unicorns at the same time, or that there are dozens of other white CBs out there who are simply not getting the chance to play?

Meant to comment on this the other night but this is top notch. Great stuff, keep it coming!

 

[white lightning]

Both Riley Moss and Cooper DeJean are extremely important to our cause here on this great message board. Riley Moss has yet
to play but I'm hoping tommorow that will change. The Denver Broncos have such a poor defense that he can only help a little.
Regardless I'm hoping to see him out there making some plays and earning his respect at the highest level.

Back to Cooper DeJean. He just needs to stay healthy as he is a top 5 cb in all of college football. His elite athletecism combined with his
intelligence make him a great leader in the defensive secondary. It's an honor to watch both of these guys play.

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Cooper DeJean has been named to the espn mid season all-American team.

 

[white lightning]

Cooper DeJean has been named to the espn mid season all-American team.

This is quite the honor and very well deserved!

 

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Cooper injured his leg in practice and is reported to miss the next several weeks. i don’t know any details, but several different outlets reported it.

 

[ximasa]

Kiper's updated Big Board rankings for the 2024 NFL draft: Rising and falling prospects

NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper updates his list of the best prospects in the 2024 draft, including the top 10 at each position.

www.espn.com

Even Mel Kiper rates DeJean no.1 CB after his injury news is spread.