Exclusive: NFL Draft Prospect Cooper DeJean Reveals a Connection to Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Deion Sanders

Cooper DeJean has quickly become one of the most sought-after prospects in football today. With the NFL Draft now here, most are expecting to hear his name soon. While the star cornerback showcased his potential at the college level, multiple teams have been eyeing DeJean for the past few months. As a result, Cooper discussed his preferences and comments on Caitlin Clark during an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports.

While DeJean’s football journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, this isn’t the only sport that he has played. During his high school days, Dejean was a four-sport athlete, noted in basketball, baseball, and track and field play. Part of the reason for his vast interest in sports is his grandfather, who himself was a football player. DeJean revealed how his granddad was a “big baseball guy” and even guided him throughout his sports journey. 

However, the most interesting part came when DeJean shared how baseball can help someone become better at football. Baseball requires multiple skills, and some of them (like catching and throwing) are similar to football. “I think it’s the hand-eye coordination,” Cooper said, which translates well from baseball to football. “It’s a big part of it. Catching and throwing the ball, throwing it from different angles for QBs,” he further added.

Later, DeJean also shared that baseball isn’t an easy sport to play. Paying respect to the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Deion Sanders, the star cornerback spoke from experience, stating, “Baseball’s a tough sport to play. You’re trying to hit a ball that’s coming… 90 miles per hour at your face, you never know. So it takes a lot of practice to do so. It’s cool to see guys who’ve done that and excelled in sports like football as well.”  

Certainly, DeJean is rising quicker than ever. Before going down with a broken leg, Cooper DeJean was perhaps the glue that kept the Iowa Hawkeyes together. As a result, it’ll be quite interesting to see where he’ll land.

The eye-catching prospects of Cooper DeJean

As the unanimous All-American in 2023, Cooper DeJean’s athleticism knows no bounds.  The star recorded 41 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections in his 10 games last season. If he could’ve prevented the injuries, one can only imagine how high DeJean’s numbers would’ve gone. However, what’s even more exciting is the sheer dedication that DeJean has exhibited throughout his sporting career.

As a track and field runner, DeJean clocked in a ridiculous 4.44-second 40-yard dash. That is an electrifying target for a football player, and this move has consistently helped DeJean control the middle of the pitch. This spontaneity has led to him dominating the play and has even made Cooper DeJean a prospect to look out for. Now, with the draft beginning on April 25, the stage is set for the young star to finally find his home.