Cooper DeJean relishes challenge of meeting high expectations
By Pat Harty
INDIANAPOLIS – Cooper DeJean has a tough act to follow.
His own.
The junior defensive back on the Iowa football team is coming off a breakout season in which he set a program record with three pick sixes, led the team with five interceptions, had at least one interception in three consecutive games, finished fourth on the team with 75 tackles and was named the most valuable player of the 2022 Music City Bowl after recording one of his pick sixes and making seven tackles.
He also finished with 56 all-purpose yards in the Music City Bowl, including 42 yards on punt returns.
DeJean started 10 games at cornerback last season and three at the Cash position.
His performance was one of the best in program history for an Iowa defensive back, which is saying a lot, and it also has made the soft-spoken DeJean a hot commodity heading into the 2023 season.
He was named the Big Ten preseason Defensive Player of the Year, marking the second consecutive year in which an Iowa player was bestowed that honor.
Former Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell was named the Big Ten preseason Defensive Player of the Year last season, and he would go on to live up to that honor by being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
So, yes, DeJean has a lot to live up to, but he also relishes the challenge.

“I like pressure,” DeJean said this past Wednesday at the annual Big Ten Media Day event in Indianapolis. “I’m just going to keep being myself, though. That’s the best I can do, just keep doing what I’m doing and keep getting better at the game of football and fixing the mistakes that I made last year, and just overall, helping this team win.”
DeJean would prefer to let his actions speak louder than words, and that was apparent when he was asked about being named the Big Ten preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
“It was a cool honor to have, obviously, it is the preseason, though, and everybody is zero and zero and nobody has played a game yet,” DeJean said. So, it doesn’t mean a whole lot, I guess. I just want to focus on being able to put my best foot forward on the field and proving that I’m worthy of that on the field on Saturdays.”
DeJean is the latest in a long and distinguished list of defensive backs that have excelled under Iowa defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Phil Parker.
DeJean could rank among the very best if he matches or exceeds what he accomplished last season.
And just like the previous defensive backs that have flourished as Hawkeyes, DeJean made his first mark on special teams, and he will continue to play a big role on special teams as a punt returner.
“I feel like that’s where everybody gets their start at Iowa,” DeJean said. “We take pride in special teams as many people know and we understand that’s a big part of the game. It helps out the defense. It helps out the offense, putting them in a good position to score the football. I think that’s why a lot of older guys take a lot of pride with it.”
DeJean credits former Iowa cornerback Riley Moss for helping to make him a better player.

Moss also played cornerback during his five seasons with the Hawkeyes and was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2021. He also started 38 games as a Hawkeye and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
“I’ve learned a lot from him,” DeJean said of Moss.”Obviously, him being an older guy when I came in, he taught me a lot about playing corner at this level, which is something I didn’t know much about coming in.
“So, it was a lot of fun to be his teammate and learn from him.”
DeJean, who is from Odebolt, Iowa, was a multi-sport star in high school where he played quarterback and safety while leading his team to back-to-back state titles as a junior and senior.
The same versatility that he showed in high school has carried to college as DeJean has shown that he can play multiple positions in the secondary.
And though he has settled in at cornerback, DeJean could also play the Cash position or safety if needed.
Some Iowa fans were also clamoring for him to play receiver last season when the offense was struggling.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has said that he would be open to the idea of DeJean playing on offense, but right now, DeJean is just too valuable on defense.
DeJean was asked at Big Ten Media Day what is the hardest thing about playing cornerback in the Big Ten.
“I feel like it depends on who you’re playing, what team,” DeJean said. “Obviously, some guys are harder to cover. Some teams are harder to play in zone just because of the concepts that the run. There’s many different challenges.”
DeJean also was asked what he is better at this year compared to a year ago.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better at my press-man coverage,” he said. “That’s something I really focused on this spring and this offseason, even working on my own with some of the older guys. And then just getting better at the little things like foot work, and film study has been a big part of this offseason, especially with the linebackers and (defensive backs), just looking at passing games and how we can be better.”
And though DeJean is getting used to being in the spotlight, he doesn’t look for attention.
He is humble by nature, and he always puts the team first.
DeJean was the same way in high school.
“I’d like to say I’m a pretty humble guy,” DeJean said. “I like talking about our team and not about myself.”
His teammates, on the other hand, have plenty to say about DeJean’s talent.
Senior quarterback Cade McNamara, who transferred from Michigan, has become close friends with DeJean in the short time they have been teammates.
McNamara got a glimpse of DeJean’s talent shortly after joining the team. Some of the players got together to play pick-up basketball and DeJean made quite an impression.
“An absolute freak of nature,” McNamara said of DeJean. “Our first week, we all went and shot some hoops. This dude is throwing down (dunks) lightly. His head’s above the rim and I’m just like, ‘What the heck is going on?’”
Predictably, DeJean tried to downplay McNamara’s praise after being told what he had said.
“We just had a bunch of guys at the rec center and I was throwing a couple dunks down, but there’s other guys that can do that, too,” DeJean said. “But I appreciate that compliment.”
DeJean plays a position in which speed and quickness are needed to survive on an island, and the 6-foot-1, 209-pounder is constantly working to gain more speed and quickness.
“I think I can continue to be faster,” DeJean said. “I think that will help me as well in the long run, becoming bigger, faster and stronger.
“That’s something we stress at Iowa.”
DeJean has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but he also figures to be a high pick in the 2024 NFL draft should he play well again this season.
So, that just adds to the pressure.