Kirk Ferentz reflects on Cooper DeJean after season-ending injury: 'He's one hell of a football player'
Before he was a projected first-round NFL Draft pick and an All-Big Ten cornerback, Cooper DeJean was a freshman trying to find his way at Iowa in 2021. He only played in seven games that season and didn’t make his first appearance until Oct. 30 of that year.
Over the last two years, though, DeJean became a staple of an Iowa defense that nearly made the Big Ten Championship a year ago and is closing in on a trip to Indianapolis this year. That adds to the emotions felt after Kirk Ferentz announced DeJean suffered a leg injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Wednesday night, after the injury became official, Ferentz put DeJean’s journey into perspective.
“We were traveling to Iowa State [this year], and somebody said he wasn’t even on the travel roster the last time we went over there in ’21,” Ferentz said on his radio show. “I think it was the second game of the year in ’21, and by the end of the year, he was playing. He made a beautiful play in the bowl game to save a touchdown, and they ended up scoring anyway. That was kind of a Kodak play for me as a true freshman.
“You think about the way he’s played … almost a full two years. I was thinking about this last week, I’m not sure he’s not one of the best players I’ve ever been around at any level. And we’ve had a lot of great players here.”
Last year was a breakout season for DeJean, who had 75 total tackles and five interceptions en route to first team All-Big Ten honors. He picked up right where he left off this season, totaling 41 tackles and two interceptions in 10 games prior to his injury.
While the on-field performance stands out to Ferentz, he also pointed out how DeJean carries himself off the field. That’s what makes his journey even more special.
“You think about how well he does so many things and how smoothly he does them, doesn’t draw really a lost of attention to himself as an individual except with his play,” Ferentz said. “It’s just stellar. Sometimes, you catch yourself saying, ‘Did he just do that?’ It’s just amazing. The punt return that got called back, I can go down the list. I just want to say that about him because he’s one of the better players I’ve ever bene around and does it in such a quiet, graceful way.
“Boy, I’ll tell you, he’s one hell of a football player and he’s a great young guy. Just a tremendous guy. But boy, talk about a guy who can play football.”
Now, Iowa will try to get a win to try and reach the Big Ten title. As for Cooper DeJean, it’s unclear what’s next for him. He recently came in at No. 21 on ESPN’s Top 25 NFL Draft player rankings, and he looked like a possible first-round selection. His decision will be a big one as the season starts to wind down.
As for the Hawkeyes, they’re gearing up to take on Illinois on Saturday with a trip to Indianapolis on the line — and they’ll do so without their star cornerback.