How Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M Aggies' Defense 'Sparked' Mississippi State Mauling
No. 14 for the Texas A&M Aggies was the only player wearing a hat during pre-game warmups.
As he threw every pass with his left hand, he looked awkward. He looked out of place. And long story short, he was. No. 14 is normally reserved for the Aggies' now-starter Max Johnson, and prior to their matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, that's what they wanted their opponent to believe.
But the truth?
Johnson was out at quarterback for the game, and Fresno State transfer quarterback Jaylen Henderson was going to get the start. They just hadn't made that clear yet.
"[Johnson] took first team reps [throughout the week]," Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said. "We were thinking we could get him back in, but it just wasn't right. We [weren't] going to take that chance. He wasn't healthy enough."
So, once they realized Johnson was out, suddenly, Henderson was thrust into a new role. A fresh opportunity to show what he was capable of. Him leading the Aggies to a victory on the offensive end was one of two possibilities that would lead to a Texas A&M victory.
The other was a defensive showcase, with D.J. Durkin's unit holding down the fort, creating turnovers and scoring to allow Henderson some leeway in his first start.
And luckily for the Aggies, both things came true.
Nov 11, 2023; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Justin Robinson (3) at Kyle Field.
© Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
"Our defense was outstanding in the game," Fisher said following his team's 51-10 rout of Mississippi State. "The No. 1 thing that affects games is turnovers. ... And really, [we] got five, because we got a fourth down stop. When you get a fourth down stop, that's like getting a turnover too. And that was huge."
Yes, you read that correctly. Texas A&M — if we're going by Fisher's logic — forced five turnovers from Mississippi State. Three interceptions, a fourth-down stop and a scoop 'n score told the story of the Aggies' dominance, and according to junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, they only got more motivated with each takeaway.
"This all adrenaline building off each other," Cooper said following the game. "We all hype each other up. We're just trying to dominate the other side of the ball. [We get one] and we just go from there."
But more than that, Cooper says the defense is motivated by the offensive's success as well. When Henderson and company were given a short field on a turnover, they capitalized — which the Aggies' 51 points proved — and that only made their win more dominant.
"We're just trying to bump both sides of the ball," Cooper said. "We're trying to work together [with the offense]. We're trying to give our offense the ball back as soon as we can, and when we create turnovers and give them that field position, ... it makes it a lot easier on them and gives us the confidence we need."
Safe to say, the offense wholeheartedly agrees.
"It sparks a light in our fire," Aggies receiver Ainias Smith said. "It sparks a fire. It definitely gets us going. I'll say to be able to have a defense like that, as an offensive player ... [It makes me] want to be out there with them because they're so turnt.
"I want to play defense with them."
Texas A&M did its job against Mississippi State. It not only dominated on the offensive end but on the defensive side of things behind Edgerrin Cooper, Jaylen Henderson, and the rest of the Aggies' playmaking weapons.
Through them, the Aggies became bowl-eligible for the last season of Jimbo Fisher's cut-short tenure. And while he might be set to depart the program, the talent remains in Cooper and the defense.
And they might just get even more motivated.
