After four years of steady growth in Bloomington, Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is officially headed to the NFL.
The redshirt junior made the announcement Monday morning, and it caps off a college career that saw Cooper evolve from a promising four-star recruit into one of the most reliable playmakers on a national championship roster.
A product of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Cooper originally committed to then-head coach Tom Allen as part of Indiana’s 2022 recruiting class. He redshirted his first year, but from that point on, his trajectory was all about development - and his numbers tell the story.
Cooper’s breakout came in stages. In 2023, he posted 18 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns - solid production for a young receiver finding his footing.
But when Curt Cignetti took over the program in 2024, Cooper’s role expanded, and he responded in a big way: 28 receptions, 594 yards, and seven touchdowns. That season set the table for what would become a historic 2025 campaign - both for Cooper and the Hoosiers.
As Indiana stormed to a 16-0 record and the program’s first national title, Cooper was front and center. He led the team in receptions (69), receiving yards (937), and touchdowns (13), emerging as a go-to target in clutch moments. His highlight-reel, toe-tap game-winner at Penn State was one of the defining plays of the season - a moment that not only helped lock up the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, but also showcased the kind of body control, awareness, and big-game poise that NFL scouts love to see.
Cooper also showed some versatility over the last two seasons, adding five carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns. At 6-foot, 204 pounds, he made a full-time move to the slot this season - a transition that suited him well and likely defines his role at the next level. His ability to create separation in tight spaces, combined with strong hands and yards-after-catch ability, makes him an intriguing fit for teams looking to bolster their receiving corps in the middle rounds of the draft.
Right now, Cooper is widely projected to go somewhere between the second and fourth rounds, with most early mocks slotting him in the third. That range feels about right for a player with his production, polish, and upside.
As for Indiana, replacing Cooper won’t be easy - and he’s not the only departure. The Hoosiers are also losing Elijah Sarratt and E.J.
Williams, meaning three of their top four receivers from the title run are moving on. That’s a lot of experience and production walking out the door.
But the cupboard isn’t bare. IU returns Charlie Becker, Tyler Morris, Davion Chandler, Lebron Bond, and Myles Kendrick.
Morris, who transferred in from Michigan, missed the 2025 season due to injury but was back practicing during the playoff run. The Hoosiers are also adding some firepower through the portal, bringing in Nick Marsh from Michigan State and Shazz Preston from Tulane - two talented additions who could make an immediate impact.
Still, there’s no sugarcoating what Cooper meant to this team. He was a steadying presence in the locker room and a dynamic weapon on the field, especially when the lights were brightest.
As he takes the next step toward the NFL, Indiana will be looking for the next man up - but they’ll be doing it with a national title banner hanging overhead, thanks in no small part to No. 4.