Iowa's DeJean declares for NFL Draft

IOWA CITY — Consensus Iowa All-American Cooper DeJean is forgoing his senior football season and will enter the NFL Draft.

The former OABCIG standout and Odebolt native announced his decision on Twitter Thursday, posting, “These past three years have been filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

“Putting on the black and gold and playing in Kinnick Stadium has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid and it has been everything I expected and more.”

DeJean is ranked as a projected Top-20 overall prospect and among the top cornerbacks on the board for this April’s draft. The junior was tabbed as an All-American by every major publication this season after recording two interceptions, five pass break-ups, 41 tackles and not allowing a single touchdown in 388 snaps of coverage. He also averaged 11.5 yards on punt returns, taking one back for a pivotal score against Michigan State.

DeJean’s season was cut short by a November injury in practice, which caused him to miss the team’s final two regular season games and both the Big Ten Championship and bowl game against Tennessee.

DeJean was named both the defensive back of the year and return specialist of the year in the Big Ten. As a sophomore in 2022, DeJean intercepted five passes and returned three for scores.