As a senior, he contributed to his team reaching the state championship game. He received All-state, Prep All-American and Louisiana Defensive Player of the Year honors. His football jersey (No. 2) was retired by the school.[1]
Cooper accepted a football scholarship from the University of Nebraska. As a freshman, he played mainly on special teams. As a sophomore, he was named the starter at strong safety. As a junior, he had one interception.
As a senior, he finished third on the team in total tackles, tied for the team lead in passes deflected and became the first player in school history to lead the Big Eight Conference in interceptions (4). He earned Big Eight Defensive Player of the Week honors after making 8 tackles, one interception and returning a blocked punt 17 yards for his first touchdown against the University of Missouri. He was a part of a defensive unit that led the Big Eight Conference and ranked seventh in the nation in yards allowed.
Cooper was a two-time Jim Thorpe Award nominee, while leading the team's secondary in tackles in his last 3 years. He finished his college career with 195 tackles (school record for defensive backs), 16 tackles for loss (school record for defensive backs), 5 interceptions and 17 pass deflections. His teams led the Big Eight Conference in pass defense during the 1988 and 1990 seasons.[2]
In 2013, he was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.[2]
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Cooper was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1991 NFL draft, to play linebacker.[3] He was waived on August 20 and later signed to the practice squad.[4] On November 1, he was promoted to the active roster, after spending the first 8 games of the season on the practice squad.[5] He strained his left quadriceps in the tenth game against the Houston Oilers and was placed on the injured reserve list on November 11. He was activated on December 6, but did not see any game action in the final three games of the season.[6]