After bursting onto the scene for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2022, Cooper DeJean quickly became known for his interceptions and prowess at turning those interceptions into touchdowns the other way.
His hype has grown this offseason as another year under Phil Parker’s defense has him primed to show out for another big season. That hype is only growing. DeJean was selected as the preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the league’s media. DeJean edged Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton by a single point in the voting.
In DeJean’s 2022 campaign, he finished third on Iowa in tackles with 75, trailing only a highly productive linebacker duo of Jack Campbell and Seth Benson. His eight pass breakups trailed only Riley Moss and his five interceptions led the Hawkeyes.
DeJean is expected to be a leader in a secondary that returns Quinn Schulte but will have Jermari Harris, Sebastian Castro and Xavier Nwankpa gaine more playing time. The position is one of Iowa’s most anticipated groups: Their secondary has gained a reputation for takeaways.
Ohio State led the way with five players receiving votes followed by Penn State with three members of their defense receiving votes.
Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Voting:
- Cooper Dejean, DB, Iowa, 42 points (6 first-place votes)
- Jer’Zahn Newton, DT, Illinois, 41 (7)
- Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State, 29 (6)
- JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State, 28 (5)
- Kalen King, DB, Penn State, 22 (1)
- Abdul Carter, LB, Penn State, 20 (5)
- Chop Robinson, DE, Penn State, 13 (3)
- Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State, 7 (1)
- Junior Colson, LB, Michigan (1); Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, 5 (1)
- Mike Hall, DT, Ohio State, 3 (1)
- Cal Haladay, LB, Michigan State, 2; Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State, 2
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