Omar Cooper, Jr., WR
School: Indiana | Conference: Big Ten
College Experience: Redshirt Junior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6’0” / 204 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 2nd-3rd Round
Player Comparison: Rashee Rice
College Statistics
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2022 | Indiana | Big Ten | FR | WR | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023 | Indiana | Big Ten | FR | WR | 9 | 18 | 267 | 14.8 | 2 | 29.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 18 | 267 | 14.8 | 2 | ||
| 2024 | Indiana | Big Ten | SO | WR | 13 | 28 | 594 | 21.2 | 7 | 45.7 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 1 | 1.8 | 30 | 617 | 20.6 | 8 | |
| 2025* | Indiana | Big Ten | JR | WR | 16 | 69 | 937 | 13.6 | 13 | 58.6 | 3 | 74 | 24.7 | 1 | 4.6 | 72 | 1011 | 14.0 | 14 | |
| Career | 42 | 115 | 1798 | 15.6 | 22 | 42.8 | 5 | 97 | 19.4 | 2 | 2.3 | 120 | 1895 | 15.8 | 24 | |||||
Player Overview
Omar Cooper, Jr. is Indiana through and through. Like current Commander Terry McLaurin, Cooper, Jr. is a native of Indianapolis. Although he participated in track, basketball, and football in high school, he was a four-star recruit at wide receiver. With offers from several schools including West
Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri, Cooper Jr. decided to stay in-state and play for Indiana.
After appearing in four games as a freshman in 2022, Cooper, Jr. redshirted. He had modest production in 2023 before showing flashes in 2024 when Curt Cignetti came to town and brought Elijah Surratt with him. Last season was the year where Cooper displayed how good of a player he could be. With Surratt missing a couple of games, he led the team in receptions and yards while being second to Surratt in touchdowns. Cooper, Jr. did a lot to keep the chains moving and help the Hoosiers to their first national championship.
Strengths
- Solidly-built physique for the receiver position
- Creates separation with quick releases, smooth route-running, and suddenness
- Makes incredible catches demonstrating fantastic body control and catch radius
- Excellent after the catch with great vision, elusiveness, and toughness
Weaknesses
- Worked predominantly out of the slot with many free releases
- Could diversify route tree with more deep routes over the middle of the field
- Route-running could be refined with more fakes
- Despite plays where he runs away from defense, questions regarding long speed
- Has occasional concentration drops, but improved this season
Let’s See His Work
How He Fits on the Commanders
With Deebo Samuel set to be a free agent, the Commanders have a decision to make. Do they re-sign a productive 30 year-old receiver who, despite playing in almost every game this season, has a long injury history? Luke McCaffrey’s development could give the Commanders a replacement for some of Samuel’s production, but he needs to continue improving.
Omar Cooper, Jr. is the type of player who offers a skillset similar to Samuel. He is a reliable player in the short and intermediate areas of the field that can occasionally get open deep once he’s built up his speed. What might hurt Cooper, Jr. is much of his production came out of the slot, or was schemed so he didn’t face press coverage often.
Cooper can be an effective slot, but his value to the Commanders increases if he can work outside more often. Even if he can only play out of the slot, he can be a valuable player. With limited draft capital, should the Commanders take a chance on Omar Cooper, Jr.?
