Featured 2023 NFL Draft Report: Get to Know Iowa Safety Cooper DeJean
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The best cornerback in the nation last season wasn't even supposed to play the position going into the year. That's how special of an athlete Iowa's Cooper DeJean is.
It wasn't long ago that DeJean was a four-sport athlete in high school, dominating everything he touched. DeJean's basketball highlights made him a viral sensation and he scored more career points in the state of Iowa than Harrison Barnes. In track, DeJean won the state championship in the 100-meter dash and the long jump as a senior.
Cooper gets his athleticism from his parents, Jason and Katie. They were star basketball players, both receiving All-American recognition in college. Though his father Jason noted, "My wife was a first-team All-American. I was just an honorable mention, so she always brings that up."
Even with their basketball backgrounds, Jason and Katie didn't push hoops on Cooper; they just wanted him to play everything. "You can't instill what Cooper has in him. You just kind of feed it, so that's what we did," Jason said.
On the football field was where DeJean really shined, though. After starring at wide receiver early in his high school career, DeJean took over as OA-BCIG's starting quarterback as a junior.
The high school had a solid history on the gridiron, but they had never made it to the Dome. Jason, who is an assistant coach for the football team, described the Dome as, "In Iowa football, the Dome is the goal. The semifinal and finals for the state championship are played in the Northern Iowa Dome. That's where you want to be."
Not only did DeJean go undefeated as a starting quarterback as a junior, he took his team to the "Dome" and won a state championship. As if one wasn't enough, DeJean repeated his success as a senior, going undefeated and winning the state championship again.
Since OA-BCIG is a smaller high school, DeJean also played safety in high school. Iowa saw his upside there and offered him a scholarship.
Because of Covid's impacts on the ability for players to visit, DeJean fell a little under the radar. His only other offer was from South Dakota State to play quarterback.
In a normal year, DeJean would have been one of the most sought-after prospects in the country. Needless to say, Iowa got arguably the biggest steal in the 2021 class. Jason knew his son was destined for success, "He just had the drive to be the best. Every opportunity he had to get a workout or lift in, he always did it." Jason also brought up, "Cooper wanted to go to games and really watch. He didn't run around with his friends. He sat there and learned, even as a young kid, which you don't see."
DeJean's work ethic and determination to be great set him up to have success early on in his collegiate career. Iowa, a team that usually makes freshmen redshirt, couldn't keep DeJean off the field, playing him in seven games on special teams and two games on defense.
Against Kentucky in the bowl game, DeJean only played five snaps on defense but showed incredible effort chasing down Wan'Dale Robinson from across the field to prevent a touchdown in the game's final two minutes. Kentucky ended up scoring and winning the game but that play took incredible hustle and speed. It was a glimpse of what DeJean was capable of.
Going into his sophomore campaign, DeJean was supposed to play a hybrid role called the "CASH" position in the Iowa defense. Because of a depleted cornerback room, he was thrust back into the role as a starting cornerback.
After coming into Iowa to play safety, moving more toward a hybrid role and then to cornerback, it would be expected that there would be growing pains on DeJean's tape.
That wasn't the case, as DeJean had three interceptions and three pass breakups in his first four games at cornerback. He finished with five interceptions on the season, three of which were returned for touchdowns. DeJean was named first-team All-Big Ten for his performances.
"It's amazing and really fun to see as a parent. Cooper has put in the time to be successful, so it isn't shocking to us because of his work ethic. That's the most satisfying thing. Seeing all that hard work pay off,"
It was easy to notice DeJean's incredible season. Every time I turned on Iowa, he did something special. DeJean is the definition of a playmaker and was a key reason Iowa's defense was so good. On live viewings, DeJean looked like a great player, so I was excited to take a look at his film.
For a sophomore, DeJean's film was in rare territory for a defensive back. His instincts are some of the best I've ever seen. He plays with eye discipline and uses elite closing burst to trigger downhill and make a play on the football. In Iowa's zone-heavy scheme, DeJean was able to read the quarterback and break on the football, leading to interceptions.
The ball tracking ability and ball skills DeJean possesses are elite. With the ball in the air, he turns into a wide receiver. In coverage, DeJean displays high-end change of direction and hip fluidity to stay with receivers on their breaks. His route recognition was unbelievable, making it easy for him to always be in the receiver's hip pocket. Specifically, in zone coverage, DeJean has a natural feel for spacing and where to be. He is great in short zones and his ability to come downhill like he was shot out of a cannon led to big hits at the catch point.
As a run defender, DeJean didn't miss tackles. He is an enforcer who seeks out contact. His technique was excellent and he was always in control. In the open field, DeJean was also an excellent tackler.
The biggest thing that stood out on DeJean's film was that he is just a gamer. He was always around the football, making plays in both the pass and run games. His instincts, football IQ and mentality, will translate well to the next level.
In terms of projection, DeJean could be a very good cornerback but he could be an elite safety. At his size and play strength, he could be a tight end eraser in coverage. His overall range and ball skills will lead to him being near the leaderboard in interceptions year in and year out.
DeJean can be a versatile chess piece who could play as a free safety in the box, cover in the slot and do anything and everything asked of him. DeJean grew up as a Vikings fan and there are a lot of similarities between his skill set and six-time pro bowler Harrison Smith.
Based on his film, it's hard to argue against DeJean as the best defender returning to college football next season. Only a third-year player, DeJean has the upside to be one of the first players drafted whenever he declares.
The Odebolt product has dominated every level of competition, which should continue when he makes the jump to the next level. DeJean's tape puts him in rare territory as a prospect and he has the makings to be one of the most coveted safety prospects in recent memory.
