2026 Player Spotlight

Kevin dives deep into Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.

As we head into the Big Ten Championship, where Indiana will take on powerhouse Ohio State, few players have meant more to their program in 2025 than redshirt junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. The 6’0”, 201-pound playmaker has erupted into one of the Big Ten’s most productive and reliable receivers, posting 58 receptions, 804 yards, and 11 touchdowns while leading the Hoosiers in every major receiving category.

Indiana doesn’t make this championship run without him. Cooper has evolved from a rotational piece early in his career to a true WR1, transforming into the heartbeat of this passing offense and one of the most underrated risers in the 2026 draft conversation.

As the lights get brighter and the stage gets bigger, his breakout has only accelerated.

Let’s take a deep dive into why Omar Cooper Jr. is surging and why dynasty managers should be paying very close attention.

Player Introduction & Context

Omar Cooper Jr. didn’t come out of nowhere, he’s been building toward this breakout for years.

A former four-star recruit out of Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, Cooper arrived at Indiana with a reputation as a polished technician and natural athlete. He was a two-sport standout whose basketball background showed up on the football field, especially in how he tracked the ball, elevated, and won in contested situations. He finished his high school career with 132 receptions, 2,856 yards, and 22 touchdowns, earned back-to-back IFCA Top 50 honors, and helped deliver the school’s first sectional championship since 1990.

Cooper redshirted in 2022 but flashed immediately in 2023, posting 18 receptions for 267 yards and two scores while showing the vertical playmaking ability Indiana desperately needed. His true breakout started in 2024, where he became one of the Big Ten’s premier downfield threats: 28 catches for 594 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging a ridiculous 21.2 yards per catch. Nearly every touch moved the chains, 24 of his 28 receptions went for either a first down or touchdown, and he added explosive work as a runner, including a 75-yard rushing touchdown that tied a program record for a wide receiver.

Still, the raw talent didn’t fully translate into consistency. Curt Cignetti publicly challenged him to be more reliable, noting stretches where Cooper wasn’t on the field when his number was called. That critique became fuel.

Fast-forward to 2025, and Cooper has become the version everyone knew he could be. Now a redshirt junior, he’s taken ownership of Indiana’s passing attack, thriving in his new full-time role in the slot. Through 12 games, Cooper has posted 58 receptions, 804 yards, and 11 touchdowns, leading the Hoosiers in every major receiving metric and turning into one of the most productive receivers in the Big Ten. He ranks inside the top 20 among active FBS players in career receiving touchdowns (19) and has authored multiple historic performances, including:

• 207 yards and 4 TDs vs. Indiana State — tying the school record for single-game receiving scores

• Two 100-yard games in 2025

• A 75-yard rushing TD, the longest by an IU WR since 2014

• One of the best game winning touchdown catches this season against Penn State

And now he heads into the Big Ten Championship as Indiana’s most important offensive player and one of the fastest-rising names in the 2026 NFL Draft conversation. Cooper’s breakout isn’t a fluke; it’s the culmination of natural talent, improved consistency, and a scheme that finally lets him showcase all three phases of his game.

Let’s take a deep dive into why Omar Cooper Jr. is surging and what the tape is showing us.

Film Room – What the Tape Shows 🎥

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