D.J. Durkin was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Texas A&M the last two seasons and saw first-hand the rise of Edgerrin Cooper, the Green Bay Packers’ second-round draft pick.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was the first player at his position selected in the 2024 NFL Draft because he “learned how to be a pro” during his final season at Texas A&M.
Cooper emerged as a starter during his first season with Durkin. He raised his game to new heights in 2023, though, going from 63 tackles, eight tackles for losses and zero sacks in 2022 to 83 tackles, 17 tackles for losses and eight sacks to earn first-team All-American in 2023.“It’s a credit to him,” Durkin said. “I challenged him last offseason of just doing more to prepare. He’s an elite athlete and he had relied on that his whole career.
Not every player is coachable. For a player who has dominated through sheer ability his entire life, he may believe he has all the answers. That wasn’t the case with Cooper, though. “I just think he started to understand the game a lot better,” Durkin said. “I think it slowed down for him. I think he started playing with his eyes in the right place. When he sees something and reacts to it, he’s as good as there is out there in terms of short-area quickness and his long speed. When you put the time in to prepare and study and have your eyes in the right place, you can be a fast reactor. That’s what he was.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas A&M Aggies LB Edgerrin Cooper Heads to Green Bay Packers via NFL DraftTexas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is the latest Aggies player to hear his name called from the commissioner's podium in Detroit as the No. 45 overall pick in
Read more »
Packers Draft All-American Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper in Second RoundThe Green Bay Packers used their first pick on Friday night on Texas A&M’s high-impact linebacker, Edgerrin Cooper.
Read more »
Shrine Bowl’s Eric Galko: Packers’ Edgerrin Cooper Built In a LabGreen Bay Packers second-round draft pick Edgerrin Cooper solidified his top-of-the-class status at the East West all-star game.
Read more »
'Ready To Step It Up!' Texas A&M Aggies LB Edgerrin Cooper Excited to Join PackersTexas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has a chance to do something special in Green Bay
Read more »
Statistical Superlatives For All 11 Packers Draft PicksHere’s a quick-hitting look at the Green Bay Packers’ 11-man draft class, which was highlighted by Jordan Morgan, Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Bullard.
Read more »
All Southland College Prep graduating seniors accepted to college, garnering $50M in scholarshipsSouthland College Prep continues its streak of remarkable success as all 133 graduating seniors of the class of 2024 have received college acceptance letters.
Read more »