One of the next great Iowa Hawkeyes defensive backs is in our midst as Cooper DeJean’s player profile tells a story of a terrific cornerback who turned heads early in his college football career.
Cooper DeJean Player Profile
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 209
- Number: 3
- Class: Junior
- Hometown: Odebolt, IA
- High School: OA-BCIG
- Years Active: 2021-2023
- Previous School(s): n/a
- Draft Eligibility: 2024
A first-team all-state player in three seasons during his prep career, DeJean played both quarterback and defensive back in the Odebolt Arthur Battle Creek Ida Grove Community School District. But DeJean’s awards didn’t end there.
MORE: 2023 Big Ten Weekly Football Schedule
As a multi-sport athlete in high school, DeJean also lettered in baseball, basketball, and track, earning state champion status in the long jump, 100-meter dash, and on the 400-meter relay team.
DeJean’s speed and track background paid dividends during his sophomore season at Iowa when he set the new school record for interceptions returned for touchdowns (three) in 2022.
Cooper DeJean’s Defensive Stats
- Career Games Played: 20
- Career Starts: 13
- Total Tackles: 79
- Solo Tackles: 59
- Assisted Tackles: 20
- TFL: 3
- INTs: 5
- TD: 3
- PBUs: 13
2022 Defensive Stats
- Games Played: 13
- Starts: 13
- Total Tackles: 75
- Solo Tackles: 56
- Assisted Tackles: 19
- TFL: 3
- INTs: 5
- TD: 3
- PBUs: 13
2021 Defensive Stats
- Games Played: 7
- Starts: 0
- Total Tackles: 4
- Solo Tackles: 3
- Assisted Tackles: 1
- TFL: 0
- INTs: 0
- TD: 0
- PBUs: 0
Cooper DeJean’s Career Achievements
DeJean paid his dues during his freshman year, earning Iowa’s prestigious “Next Man In Award” on special teams.
His career achievements include:
- CFN First-Team All-B1G Cornerback (2022)
- CFN Honorable Mention All-American (2022)
- Iowa Next Man In Award (2021)
- Music City Bowl Most Valuable Player (2022)
- Reggie Roby Special Teams Award (2022)
- Team Hustle Award, Defense (2022)
- First-Team All-Big Ten – media (2022)
- Second-Team All-Big Ten – coaches (2022)
- Set Iowa single-season school record (2022)
- Interceptions returned for touchdowns (3)
- Tied Iowa career record (2022)
- Interceptions returned for touchdowns (3)
