Week after week, more eyes turn toward the Hoosiers as they continue their 7-0 start in year two of the Curt Cignetti era. Bloomington has been buzzing with storylines this season, but few have captured attention quite like the rise of one of college football’s most electrifying wide receiver duos — Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt.
The pair took very different paths to Indiana, yet both have flourished under Cignetti’s system. Sarratt’s journey began with no star rating and nothing but a dream to play college football. He grinded his way through Saint Francis (PA), where his play caught the attention of then–James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti. After lighting up defenses in 2023 at JMU, Sarratt followed Cignetti to Indiana — and it didn’t take long for the Big Ten to take notice.
Nicknamed “Waffle House” because he’s always open, Sarratt reeled in 53 receptions for 957 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. His crisp route running, elite body control, and sure hands have made him a matchup nightmare — and earned the respect of his fellow receiver.
“I would say Elijah is better at using his body way more than me,” Omar Cooper said Tuesday. “Just using his hands on releases and against press. Elijah knows how to use his body well, how to adjust to the ball — back shoulder, jump ball. That’s something that I’m trying to learn from him and take from him, but it takes time.”
Sarratt’s relentless drive to improve is matched only by Cooper’s. The two feed off each other’s competitiveness, constantly finding ways to sharpen one another’s game. In the grind of the Big Ten, where every yard is earned, that bond — built on mutual respect and a shared hunger to get better — is what’s turning them into one of the nation’s premier receiver tandems.
While Sarratt carved his path through the FCS ranks, Cooper took a different route — one that started right at home in Bloomington. A member of the same graduating class as Sarratt, Cooper began his collegiate career with Indiana in 2022 under former head coach Tom Allen. When Curt Cignetti arrived in December 2023, Cooper didn’t hesitate to buy in. That decision — to stay, adapt, and embrace the new culture — has paid off in a big way.
“He showed me a lot last fall, my first year with him, that he was an explosive player,” Cignetti said Monday. “I just think what you’re seeing from him now — he’s older, more mature, a veteran. He sees what’s out there. He’s just becoming a lot more consistent and explosive. He’s a hard tackle.”
Cignetti’s words ring true. Cooper has become a nightmare for opposing defenses — a blend of speed, physicality, and sheer determination. As a redshirt sophomore in 2024, he hauled in 28 passes for 594 yards and seven touchdowns. Fast forward to 2025, and through just seven games, he’s already up to 37 catches for 581 yards and seven touchdowns, plus a highlight-reel 75-yard touchdown run that left defenders grasping at air.
That leap in production didn’t come by accident. Cooper took Cignetti’s challenge to heart, spending the offseason sharpening every aspect of his game. But more importantly, he changed his mindset.
“This is all a blessing,” Cooper Jr. said. “Some people don’t get this opportunity. So I’ve got to take it and make sure I’m going hard each and every day at practice because you never know what could happen. That was the biggest thing for me — my mindset had to change.”
Cooper’s maturity and drive have helped turn potential into performance, and alongside Sarratt, he’s proving why Indiana’s receiver room has become one of the toughest matchups in the nation.
He and Elijah Sarratt share a tight bond built on trust, competition, and an unspoken drive to outdo one another every Saturday. Each week, the two push each other to raise the bar higher — whether it’s who racks up more catches, yards, or touchdowns.
Through seven games, Sarratt has hauled in 43 receptions for 603 yards and a nation-leading nine touchdowns. His ability to take over games has made him nearly unstoppable, and his confidence continues to grow with every snap.
Together, Cooper and Sarratt have become one of the most electric receiving tandems in college football. Their combined stat line — 80 receptions, 1,184 yards, and 16 touchdowns — stacks up against some of the country’s elite duos. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate sit at 83 catches for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns. USC’s Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane have 74 receptions for 1,182 yards and nine scores, while Texas A&M’s Mario Craver and KC Concepcion have totaled 69 receptions for 1,174 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The numbers don’t lie — Indiana’s duo belongs in the national conversation. But for Cooper and Sarratt, it’s not about the spotlight. It’s about the bigger picture.
“We can’t be complacent because we have a goal that we want as a team,” Cooper said. “We all want to play in the Big Ten Championship. We want to win the Big Ten Championship, and we want to play in the playoffs again because last year we felt like we missed out on the opportunity.”
With that mentality driving them, the duo isn’t just chasing stats — they’re chasing history. The chemistry and consistency of Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt have been at the heart of their mission, driving Indiana’s offense to new heights.
This Saturday (Oct. 25), the dynamic duo will take the field once again at noon against a rejuvenated UCLA squad — another test in a season full of statement opportunities. For Cooper and Sarratt, it’s not just about stats or headlines; it’s about pushing each other to be great and leaving everything on the field every snap.
They’ve bought into Cignetti’s vision, they’ve embraced the grind, and they’ve become the standard for what it means to play for Indiana. With their bond, their hunger, and their unshakable focus, the best of this duo might still be yet to come.