Indiana Hoosiers Wide Receiver Omar Cooper Jr. Declares For 2026 NFL Draft
The confetti has barely been swept off the floor of Hard Rock Stadium, and the sheer euphoria of Indiana’s first national championship is still buzzing in the Bloomington air. Just days after helping secure a perfect 16-0 season, Indiana Wide Receiver Omar Cooper Jr. made the call everyone saw coming, but no Hoosier fan was quite ready to hear: he’s taking his talents to the NFL.
For the redshirt junior, the timing couldn’t be more scripted. You don’t just walk away; you walk away after helping your hometown team climb the mountain top. Cooper Jr. isn’t just leaving as a statistically dominant wideout; he’s leaving as a legend who helped paint the town Cream and Crimson.
Cooper Jr. Makes It Official
According to reports, Cooper Jr. is foregoing his final year of eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. He joins a growing list of Hoosiers, including Quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, who are striking while the iron is hot.
And honestly? You can’t blame him. When you put up the kind of tape Cooper Jr. did this past season, the league takes notice. We aren’t talking about a fringe prospect here. Scouts are eyeing him as a solid Day 2 pick, a guy who can step onto an NFL roster and make things happen immediately.
A Season For the History Books
Let’s look at the numbers, because they don’t lie. Across 16 games, Cooper Jr. was a machine. He led the Hoosiers with 69 catches for 937 yards. He found the end zone 13 times through the air, tying for the third-most touchdown receptions in the FBS.
But stats only tell half the story. It was when he made those plays that mattered. In the National Championship game against Miami, with the pressure gauge red-lining, Cooper Jr. hauled in five receptions for 71 yards. He was the safety valve, the guy Mendoza looked for when the pocket collapsed, and chaos ensued.
That Catch Against Penn State
If you want to understand why NFL GMs are salivating over Cooper Jr., just pull up the tape from Nov. 8 at Beaver Stadium. Indiana vs. Penn State. The game was on the line.
Cooper Jr. didn’t just make a catch; he defied gravity. The acrobatic, leaping grab in the back of the end zone to seal the 27-24 win wasn’t just a highlight; it was a statement. It was the moment Cooper Jr. went from “good college receiver” to “Sunday player.” Coach Curt Cignetti called him “explosive” and “hard to tackle,” but that night, he was simply unguarded.
The Hometown Hero Narrative
There is something undeniably poetic about Cooper Jr.’s journey. He’s an Indianapolis native, a product of Lawrence North High School. He stayed home to play for the Hoosiers when he surely could have gone elsewhere. He stuck around through the coaching transition from Tom Allen to Cignetti.
He ended his time in Bloomington with 115 career receptions, nearly 1,800 yards, and 24 total touchdowns. He even added a pair of rushing scores. “I’m grateful to be able to represent my hometown and win a natty,” Cooper Jr. said.
How Indiana Replaces Cooper Jr.
So, where does this leave the Hoosiers? Replacing a guy like Cooper Jr. isn’t a plug-and-play operation. You lose that production, sure, but you also lose that veteran presence in the locker room.
However, the cupboard isn’t bare. Indiana still boasts Charlie Becker, who turned into a household name during the playoff run, and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. That duo alone is enough to keep defensive coordinators up at night.
The real question mark is in the slot, where Cooper Jr. did so much of his damage. The Hoosiers will likely look to Tyler Morris, the Michigan transfer who missed the season with a torn ACL, but should be hungry to prove himself. There’s also Shazz Preston and rising sophomores LeBron Bond and Davion Chandler waiting in the wings.
