Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Size:
Height: 6’0.5”
Weight: 203 pounds
Arm Length: 31 1/8"
Hand Size: 9 5/8"
Accomplishments:
Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist (2023) • Jim Thorpe Award finalist (2023) • Consensus All-American (2023)
“Cooper DeJean is an alignment-versatile defender whose instincts and physicality present a clear path to success early in his pro career.”
Strengths:
Versatility
Tenacious
Trigger
Ball skills
Run game
Concerns:
Hips
Comfortability with back to QB
Transitions
Film Analysis:
Cooper DeJean is an athletic perimeter defender whose tenaciousness in coverage and as a run defender provides an intriguing skill set as a prospect. As a zone defender, DeJean showcases an excellent trigger and ability to align at a variety of depths. He displays quick feet in his backpedal and can align with his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and in side-saddle technique with his back to the sideline. His seven interceptions the last two seasons showcase his ability to get out of breaks quickly when working downhill, often providing little to no room for quarterbacks. He has quick twitch in lower half despite tight hips and elongated transitions at times. Excellent eyes and awareness in the zone put him in a position to succeed against offenses that target crossers.
In man, DeJean can run into trouble against more sudden route-runners where stiff hips become apparent. Larger framed targets can give him issues as well. Physical with the ball in the air and extremely nuanced when using the sideline as an extra defender, but can become uncomfortable with his back turned to the QB. Speed is not a concern, although medicals (leg injury in 2023) throughout the process will remain key to a final projection.
DeJean shines against the run. He’s quick to stack and shed blockers with heavy hands. Intelligent. Clean pursuit angles, as well. Sure tackler that arrives with a sneaky amount of pop in his pads.
Overall, DeJean is a high-level zone defender whose comfortability in space showcases an athlete who has the chance to make plays on the football early in his career. While an increased amount of flexibility in the lower half is warranted to counter quicker, more fluid route-runners in man coverage, DeJean’s ability to impact the game in a variety of ways (including special teams) should pave the way for a large number of snaps early on in his career.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 – Winning Starter
Exposures: Wisconsin (2023), Penn State (2023), Michigan State (2023)
