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Texas A&M Football: Cooper Declares for NFL, Won’t Play in Bowl

By Graham Harmon

Sep 9, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) recovers a fumble against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) recovers a fumble against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Star Linebacker for Texas A&M Football Declares for NFL Draft, Won’t Play in Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma State

Edgerrin Cooper has been having one of the best seasons of any linebacker for Texas A&M football in recent memory, and has made a name for himself as one of the top defenders in the country. This season, Cooper totaled 83 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He’s been named to multiple all-American teams since the conclusion of the regular season, doubtless due to his eye-popping TFL numbers and overall highly efficient play this season.

Many Texas A&M football fans felt that, due to this huge season and the fact that he is now a senior, Cooper would be NFL bound after this season. It was only a matter of time until he declared, and he has now made his intentions to do so public.

0ne of the best players on the Aggie defense, this will definitely be a hole the Aggies need to fill for next year’s unit—and, for that matter, the bowl game. Some portal help may be ideal, as the Aggie commitments at that position reportedly seem to be wavering just a tad (with the exception of Jordan Lockhart) and may not be ready to step in year 1 in any case—not everyone is Taurean York, after all.

Cooper’s big year this year has really shot him up NFL draft boards, with PFF projecting him in the second round in some of their early team-specific mock drafts. He is the top player at the position on their big board. Other sites have him listed behind players like Dallas Turner, but the two don’t really play the same position—Turner is more of a dedicated edge rusher, while Cooper can play more of a true linebacker spot.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Coop go on day 2 of the draft. If he tests well enough at the combine, maybe a team could take a flier on him in the late first, though I’d find it unlikely at this juncture. In any case, good luck to you, Coop!