MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Keith Cooper, Jr., has actually played in one NFL game.
He ran in for the Cleveland Browns in a game last season. For one snap.
"Against the Bills," Cooper, Jr. said. "But they kneeled and ran the clock out."
Cooper, Jr., 23, is a player worth rooting for in Miami's preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Aug. 28.
He's undrafted. He's a 285-pound defensive tackle (lightest at that position on the team.)
He's spent time with the Lions and Browns practice squads. He played at Tulane and Houston.
Keith Cooper, Jr.?
No. 97 in your program has been so impressive this summer that he just may make the team.
"Man, I hope my chances are great, man," Cooper said after Miami's 17th and final training
camp practice. "I'm just gonna, yeah, keep my head down, keep working and whatever happens, happens, man."
Miami Dolphins 53-man roster: Keith Cooper Jr.'s shot
In practice and in games Cooper has been explosive. He's pressured the passer. He's stopped the run. He's been a ball of energy and influence.
"Quick guy who uses his hands, who can do a good job anchoring in the run game, and he's got some juice in the pass game, which I think with him, the confidence is showing, right?" Dolphins defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said.
Cooper, Jr. is exactly the type of player Miami should be adding to its roster.
Cooper, Jr. is a potential hidden gem who may be hiding in plain sight.
"This guy has gotten better and better," Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said. "He is a guy that, in my opinion, has made one of the biggest jumps from where he started to where he is right now. He played that way (against the Giants) too, and we played him on the inside, we played him on the outside and I'm really proud of him."
Cooper says assistant coach Austin Clark has helped him take a step forward in technique and fundamentals.
Miami Dolphins news: Zach Sieler helps young players on roster
Cooper said he sits with veteran Zach Sieler in meetings.
"Man, I think he started off on P-Squad (practice squad) for a little bit, he got cut, early on, so like it's the same little path," Cooper said. "So just trying to take everything he says, I'm engraving in my head, man. And yeah, I'll just keep on pushing."
I mentioned to Dolphins DT Keith Cooper Jr. that former Houston OT Patrick Paul has a wingspan similar to Giannis
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 26, 2026
Cooper, also a former Houston player, pointed out he has a big wingspan
Turns out it’s around 83.75 inches which may be around 97th percentile for DTs pic.twitter.com/zIJmLvNA8K
Cooper probably has a chance to solidify his spot on the 53-man roster against the Falcons.
It would mean so much.
"Glorifying my Lord and Savior, them, my family, man," Cooper said. "They sacrificed so much for me to be here, dog, and it's doing them a disservice if I don't go out there and give it my all every day, man."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins DL Keith Cooper, Jr. is prototypical training camp gem
