Nobody predicted that the Indiana Hoosiers would become the National Champions in 2025. And it’s interesting that a school that made such great use of the transfer portal to add talent, would also have a home-grown receiver as one of their best weapons.
But that’s what happened as Omar Cooper Jr. emerged as the Hoosier’s top receiver last year. Cooper Jr. spent all four years of his college career in Indiana, much of it while the team was one of the worst in college history. Then everything clicked under Curt Cignetti, Cooper doubled his production, and was one of the biggest reasons behind Indiana’s shocking turnaround.
The New York Giants certainly have a need at wide receiver with a thin corps and question marks at the top. Could the Giants look at Cooper Jr. to help with their own turnaround?
Prospect: Omar Cooper Jr. (3)
Games Watched: vs. Maryland (2025), vs. Penn State (2025), vs. Oregon (2025)
Red Flags: “Lower body” (2025, Big 10 championship)
Measurables
Height: 6-foot (unofficial)
Weight: 200 pounds (unofficial)
Strengths
Best traits
- Competitive toughness
- Route running
- Quickness and agility
- Run after catch
Omar Cooper Jr. possesses a compact, dense physique that might be both a bit shorter and heavier than his listed 6-foot, 200-pound measurements. Cooper’s build allows him to be very quick in and out of his breaks, as well as a dangerous ball carrier after the catch.
Cooper runs efficient routes and is able to make sharp, precise cuts to create separation in the short and intermediate areas of the field. His quickness and agility also make him very difficult for defenders to cleanly tackle in run-after-catch situations. Likewise, his compact build gives him natural leverage, allowing him to run through arm tackles or survive contact before picking up additional yardage.
He is also a very competitive receiver who seems to seek out contact when playing away from the ball. He understands how to use his routes to create traffic as well as his role within Indiana’s blocking schemes. He’s quick to get in defenders’ way and tenacious about sustaining his blocks for as long as possible.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Size
- Long speed
Cooper has a relatively limited physical and athletic profile. His compact frame enables his short-area quickness, agility, and play strength, however his catch radius, long-speed, and overall mass are relatively limited.
Cooper accelerates quickly, but lacks the extra gear shown by true big-play vertical threats. Likewise, while he’s a very tough receiver who’s willing to play through contact, he lacks the frame to be a consistent contested catch specialist and can be moved by bigger defensive backs.
Finally, and this is something he can work on, occasionally Cooper’s competitiveness gets the better of him at the catch point. There were instances on tape of him turning to run before he had the ball secured, leading to incomplete passes.
Game Tape
(Omar Cooper Jr. is the Indiana wide receiver wearing number 3 and white bands on both forearms)
Projection
Omar Cooper Jr. projects as a starting slot receiver at the NFL level, and a likely Day 2 pick. He can probably play in any offense commonly called in the NFL, but his upside is likely greatest in catch-and-run offenses like those run by disciples of Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay.
Cooper is competitive and has the ability to be a reliable outlet on 3rd downs, however he’ll likely shine when given the opportunity to pick up yards after the catch. And while he doesn’t have the raw speed to be a consistent deep or home run threat, his quickness, agility, and explosiveness should allow him to routinely pick up chunk yardage. In that, he bears a certain resemblance to former Giant Victor Cruz.
Does he fit the Giants? Yes, depending on scheme and need
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