'Ready To Make Plays': Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper Excited For Next Chapter
COLLEGE STATION -- Edgerrin Cooper loves hog hunting head-on. He also loves head-hunting quarterbacks.
Perhaps he'll land with an NFL team with hogs nearby to taste his appetite before he finds his way into the backfield on Sundays dismantling quarterbacks, though it's not at the top of his wishlist.
“Whoever wants me, I’m ready to put on a show,” said Cooper following Texas A&M’s Pro Day on Tuesday at the Coolidge Performance Center. “To just have everybody look at me as a great player who comes to work every day — that’s all I’m looking for.”
Cooper can be that player. The junior All-American linebacker has a chance to be the first player at his position and potentially even a first-round pick come April 25 at the NFL draft.
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There was little the Covington, La., needed to prove Tuesday during workouts after an impressive showcase in Indianapolis. Cooper posted the third-fastest 40-time at 4.51 seconds. He was also No. 1 in the 10-yard split (1.49 seconds) and posted a 34.5-inch vertical jump.
Still, ever the competitor, Cooper wasn't pleased with his times, meaning Tuesday was another chance to impress with over 60 NFL personnel members in the building.
"I just wanted to be able to see how I move on the field," Cooper said. "You know, [being able to work] linebacker drills, that's one area where I wanted to do what I do and show teams what I have to store."
Teams had a front-row seat to watch Cooper impress in drills one final time while donning the Aggie uniform. They have plenty of film to see what skills will transition to the next level with ease.
Once again, Cooper finished with a 4.51 40-time but also posted a 4.29 20-yard shuttle and 7.19 three-cone drill. He said he models his game after 49ers star Fred Warner because, much like the All-Pro, he's a sideline-to-sideline type of talent.
"We both are able to make plays," said Cooper.
Cooper, who started two seasons after being recruited by new A&M coach Mike Elko, led the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and pressures. He led the Aggies in tackles (83) and sacks (8) while serving as the backbone of a 7-6 finish under Jimbo Fisher.
"When you watched him on film last year, he's everything you want an NFL linebacker to be," said Elko. "He's got unbelievable speed, twitch, athleticism. He's a great blitzer, he can cover. We saw a little bit of it my last year here when he was a true freshman.
"He's going to make some NFL franchise really proud that they drafted him for sure."
Teammates know it would be foolish for 31 other teams to pass up on a do-it-all linebacker if given the opportunity.
"You've seen the tape," senior receiver Ainias Smith said. "He's a dawg."
McKinnley Jackson, who also worked out in Indianapolis, said any team that adds Cooper is bringing in a "dawg."
Of course, Cooper only became the alpha of A&M's defense because of Jackson's ability to open lanes, so they might be a package deal.
"I tell them, ' If y'all take him, you got to take to me too because he wouldn't be who is is without me, ' " Jackson joked. "As a collab, we work well. We had a top-five defense in the SEC. We considered ourselves a top-five defense in the country. Me and him, we're a dynamic duo."
Cooper, who doesn't know what his draft plans are yet, isn't opposed to recreating the chemistry with Jackson outside of College Station.
"I'd love for that to happen," he laughed.
