Measurables
- 6‘0 Height
- 204 lb. Weight
2025 Stats
- 91 Targets
- 69 Receptions
- 937 Receiving Yards (13.6 Yards Per Reception)
- 13 Receiving Touchdowns
- 494 Yards After Catch (7.2 YAC per Reception)
- 2.55 Yards per Route Ran
- 9.7 Average Depth of Target
- 3 Drops (4.2% Drop Rate)
- 7 Contested Catches (50% Contested Catch Rate)
- 27 Missed Tackles Forced
- 143.2 Passer Rating when Targeted
- 3 Carries
- 74 Rushing Yards (24.7 Yards Per Carry)
- 1 Rushing TD
- 78 Yards After Contact (26 YAC per Carry)
- 3 Missed Tackles Forced
Awards/Accolades
- National Champion (2025)
- Second Team All BIG10 (2025)
Strengths
- Highly elusive and physical Runner with the ball, had a 39.1% Missed Tackle Rate per Catch which leads the 2026 Draft Class by a wide margin. Runs like an RB with balance and lowers the shoulder to deliver punishment at contact.
- Reliable hands within catch radius that he extends to his fullest. Only 5 Drops in his entire collegiate career and 54.3% Contested Catch rate in his 3 years at Indiana. Made some insanely acrobatic and tough catches in contested situations and has stellar body control to stay inbounds.
- Versatile in role and alignment. Was a outside deep threat Wide Receiver from 2023-2024 with 15.6 Average Depth of Target but low volume before shifting to slot with 9.7 ADOT in 2025 for a breakout year.
- Sudden cuts at top of routes, able to get quick separation horizontally. Changes up his tempo and speed in route running to fool defenders. Won a lot of digs, slants, flats, quick outs, crossers in short to intermediate depths.
- Smart player, shows a keen awareness of where defenders are around him and their angles with the ball in his hands, as well as knows how to read where the soft points of zone are. Able to improvise in scramble situations to create separation when plays break down as well as get creative in ways to elude tacklers.
- Fearless and intense run blocker, does well on blocking Corners or safeties. Has some snaps lined up at Tight End too for rare occasions to try to block Linebackers.
Weaknesses
- Not enough long speed to threaten vertically to get separation on Corners. Contested targets happened more often on deeper routes, so while he can still be productive in those situations the lack of separation deep makes it harder.
- Route tree needs more variety, got a lot of production off of screens (25 of his 91 targets) and horizontal short to intermediate routes. Needs more routes coming back to the QB and improve vertical separation. Could get even more separation if he lowers his hips to explode out of breaks.
- Maximizes his available catch radius, but is still average height and length so it won’t be as large as some other pros.
- High ankle sprain in 2023 and lower body injury in December 2025 that he played through, has since recovered but will be something to monitor on medical checkups at the Combine.
Draft Projection
Round 2 Grade
In my initial big board Cooper was 73rd Overall with a Round 3 grade, but his playoff tape since was very impressive. He wasn’t targeted as often with just 15 looks over the Hoosiers championship run, but he secured 11 of them for 133 yards and 2 Touchdowns against some of the best defenders in college. Scouts got to see the Lawrence North High School alum win on more reps against press coverage to allay potential concerns there, while also showcase his after the catch prowess. Now Cooper has firmly put himself in the Round 2 tier, perhaps as high as Top 50 conversations.
Omar Cooper Jr. is a lot of fun on tape. Whether it is making some of the more spectacular aerial catches in college football or making would be tacklers looking like they are on frozen ice, Cooper can make highlights seem routine. The football IQ combined with his competitive spirit of never giving up on a play, whether it is on an improvised route after his QB needs to move out of the pocket to avoid the rush, extend and contort and fight for balls in the air, to fight for every yard after the catch, or open up gaps for runners to find space in; there is no quit on tape and it’s hard not to root for him.
There are still areas to improve and limits to his game with his struggles to stack corners vertically, the need to diversify his routes, and clean up some route running habits to get even more separation, but with the determination shown on tape I’m not betting against Cooper Jr.‘s development. The team that drafts the Indianapolis native will get a undaunted 3 level threat with some of the better hands in college football and a bowling ball with knives to try to bring down. That will appeal to a lot of teams on Day 2.
Cooper could be an interesting fit for the Colts with his inside/outside versatility. Josh Downs mans the slot and will likely be extended after his deal expires post-2026 season, but Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce’s future on the outside remains up in the air. Pierce is a priority re-signing this offseason but is not a guarantee to return despite the apparent mutual interest in both sides to get a deal done as he will command a substantial market. Pittman Jr. could free up $24 million in cap space in 2026 if he is traded, and could potentially be moved to add draft capital and secure the cap space needed for the Colts to keep Pierce.
Should the former Trojan be moved this offseason, the Colts suddenly have a hole in their starting Offense for a short to intermediate separator and Yards After the Catch threat who can make insane contested catches at all depths. Sounds like a job for a certain Hoosier. Omar Cooper Jr. might not have the same size as the 6’4 Pittman Jr., but should a Colts passer throw the ball in his vicinity with defenders around him he has shown a similar ability to dominate the aerial battle against defenders to come down with the contested catch while also bringing even more juice after the catch than Pittman did. If the Colts pursue that cost saving move and need a Day 2 successor for the role, consider Cooper a strong bet for the Colts to take a long look at keeping close to home once again.
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