On Monday Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. announced that he was forgoing his final year of eligibility and prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft. A native of Indianapolis and Lawrence North High School star, Cooper showed the impact one can have as an in-state recruit at IU.
Omar Cooper’s journey to IU started as a four-star prospect at Lawrence North where he finished his career with 132 receptions for 2,856 yards, and 22 touchdowns. He committed to Tom Allen’s staff at IU as part of the 2022 class.
Cooper came to Indiana with high expectations, but he redshirted and played in just four games in 2022 as a kick returner and IU seemingly wasted an opportunity to see what they had in their star freshman.
Cooper’s role grew in 2023 as he made made two starts and played in nine games before an ankle injury derailed the rest of that season. Even as a redshirt freshman Cooper was making the high light plays IU fans had gotten used to seeing the last two seasons. There was the catch at Michigan where he landed on his head after being upended by a defender. He had a 35-yard touchdown catch against Rutgers and another one against Penn State. Cooper’s time was coming.
With a coaching change after the 2023 season Cooper thought about his future at IU, but ultimately decided to stay. It turned out to be the absolute right decision.
In 2024 Cooper saw his role increase. He played in 12 games with four starts. He finished second on the team in receiving yards with 594 on just 28 catches and he hauled in 7 touchdowns. Cooper was big on money downs as well.
This season was one for the record books for Cooper as he worked tirelessly on his craft.
“I’ve always felt with Coop, it hasn’t been a drastic thing for him to take from step one to step two. It’s been very minute, small things, just his play in general to this point this year has been, overall, really consistent.” Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan said. “There’s little lapses from time to time that we address with him and typically he’s the type of kid that will get it fixed the next time we go out there. So, I just feel like overall he’s just gotten a better sense of the offense, we can play him at different positions and whenever the ball has come his ways, he’s done a good job making the plays.”
When Tyler Morris went down in spring practice, it was Cooper who had to learn a new position and that versatility paid off big time in 2025.
“That’s amazing to see someone who can start outside and move in within a season and do what (Cooper’s) doing.” IU wide receiver Elijah Sarratt said. “It definitely takes a lot. You get a lot of different looks at slot. You got to read your line. Your nickel, your linebacker, your safety over the top, still see that corner in your peripheral. Block-in assignments are different in slot. You’ve got to determine one high safety, two high safety. Definitely takes a little more thinking and adjustment in that slot. He’s done a great job of taking it head on. He didn’t complain when Coach had asked him to move to the slot. He did his thing.”
Cooper’s year will forever be etched into the minds of IU fans with his unbelievable catch in the waining moments against Penn State. He finished his IU career third all-time in school history with 22 touchdown catches and is just outside the top-10 in catches (138) and receiving yards (1,798). In his four years at IU Omar was indeed ‘Super Cooper’.