American cornerback Cooper DeJean was a University of Iowa Hawkeyes football team member during his collegiate career.
The merged school in Ida Grove, Iowa, known as OA-BCIG, was attended by Cooper DeJean, originally from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
While at OA-BCIG, he was a standout quarterback and defensive back, earning him a slew of honors.
A new chapter in Cooper DeJean’s football career began in 2021 when he committed to play collegiate football for the University of Iowa.
He was about to embark on an extraordinary college experience when he made this decision.
He made seven appearances as a true freshman in 2021 for Iowa, mostly on special teams, and recorded four tackles.
Plus, in 2022, during his sophomore year, he was named to the starting lineup.
Unanimously selected as an All-American for the 2023 season, he was also voted the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year by Tatum-Woodson and the Return Specialist of the Year by Rodgers-Dwight.
He was also named to the Jim Thorpe Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy because of his outstanding play.
As a highly touted prospect who might go as high as the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, DeJean entered the draft after the 2023 season.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected him with the 40th overall pick in the draft’s second round.
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Cooper DeJean Parents
Jason and Katie DeJean, Cooper’s parents, are quite athletic, especially on the basketball court.
Both of them were named to the All-American squad during their collegiate basketball careers; Katie even won the title of first-team All-American.
Jason is pleased with his accomplishments but makes fun of Katie for having more prestigious awards.
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Jason and Katie did not try to force Cooper to play a particular sport because of their background in basketball.
On the contrary, they pushed him to try out several different sports.
Jason made a valid point when he said that instead of trying to teach athletic ability in Cooper DeJean, they were “feeding” his inherent abilities.
Even though Cooper was a football prodigy, he owes much of his success to the encouragement of his parents and his varied athletic background.
The family’s goal of playing in the Northern Iowa Dome—the championship game for high school football in Iowa—was something that Jason, as an assistant coach, could relate to.
Jason DeJean is Cooper DeJean’s dad. Regarding his career, Jason DeJean is an insurance agent for Swanson Insurance and also owns the business.
He was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He owned and managed CoBe’s, a bar and restaurant, for a few years before getting into the insurance industry.
Huron University was Jason DeJean’s alma mater in 1997.
One of Cooper DeJean’s parents is Katie DeJean. She and her husband, Jason, are both hard workers; she is an accountant for Swanson Insurance.
She received her bachelor’s degree in sports management from Briar Cliff University.
She was born and raised in Odebolt, Iowa, and probably met her husband while working in Sioux Falls.
Cooper DeJean’s parents are Jason and Katie DeJean. He shares the same parents as his brothers, Beckett DeJean and Jaxx DeJean.
Dejean Career
DeJean set many records in high school, playing quarterback and defensive back.
During his senior year, he completed 35 passes for 3,447 yards and 24 touchdowns while also running for 1,235 yards.
At the 2021 All-American Bowl, Adidas named DeJean the game’s most valuable player.
In the state final game, OABCIG defeated Van Meter, thanks in large part to DeJean’s several clutch plays.
In two minutes, DeJean played eight plays, including two tackles, a 14-yard punt return, 52 yards passing, 22 yards rushing, two touchdowns, and a two-point conversion.
DeJean ran on the track and in basketball and baseball fields as a high school athlete.
Among Iowa’s all-time scorers, he sits 55 points ahead of NBA player Harrison Barnes and just behind NFL tight end T.J. Hockenson with 1,832 points in his career.
While he was a senior in high school, DeJean ran the state’s fastest 100-meter dash.
Few offers came DeJean’s way after high school despite his four-star ranking and outstanding athletic record.
While at Iowa, he is leaning more toward playing defense than quarterback for SD State.
As a true freshman in 2021, DeJean saw action seven times for the Hawkeyes, mostly on special teams, and recorded four tackles.
He was named to the starting lineup in 2022 while still a sophomore.
While practicing with the Hawkeyes in 2022, DeJean filled in for injured starters at cornerback, safety, cash (a hybrid position between linebacker and safety), and punt returner.
DeJean’s versatility was on full display in Wisconsin’s game.
He forced a fumble, had ten tackles, downed a punt on the one-yard line, recovered four punts for 82 yards, and returned an intercepted Graham Mertz throw 32 yards for a touchdown.
This created the stage for a short scoring drive by Iowa.
DeJean outgained Theean outgained three-quarters.
To top it all off, DeJean recorded seven stops, returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown, and returned three punts 42 yards for MVP honors in the 2022 Music City Bowl.
Cooper DeJean Net Worth
As of 2024, DeJean’s net worth is projected to range from approximately $1 million to $5 million.
His remarkable wealth is thought to have been amassed through his football career and maybe sponsorship deals.
Cooper DeJean is doing well for himself and ensuring everything in his life is being run very smoothly.