In terms of preseason award watch lists, there might not be a better match than the one Cooper DeJean was just placed on. Mr. Versatility for the Iowa Hawkeyes gets his proper due.
The 6-foot-1, 207 pound junior defensive back was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. Presented annually to the nation’s most versatile player in major college football, DeJean certainly fits the billing.
Last season, the Odebolt, Iowa, native picked off five passes. He returned three of those for touchdowns to set an Iowa single-season record. DeJean was also a menace for opponents in the return game, returning 10 punts for 165 yards over the course of the 2022 season.
Coop ➡️ Paul Hornung Watch List@cdejean23 x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ynL5vxY44J
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) August 3, 2023
In the Wisconsin game last year, DeJean was far and away the best player on the field. He returned an interception 32 yards for a pick-six and then set up another Hawkeye touchdown with his 41-yard punt return. DeJean finished with four returns for 82 yards against the Badgers.
Though he’s likely primarily locked into cornerback for Iowa, he could flip to the offensive side of the football in a hurry if it was asked of him. And Hawkeye fans and the coaching staff have no doubts that he’d perform admirably.
The nomination for DeJean comes just two days after he was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List.
DeJean joins a group of 53 Paul Hornung Award nominees that spans across all of the 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and a pair of independents.
The following list of Big Ten players join DeJean among the league’s nominees: Wisconsin wide receiver Chimere Dike, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Maryland wide receiver Jeshaun Jones, Indiana running back Jaylin Lucas and Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton.
In addition to the Nagurski Trophy and Paul Hornung Award watch lists, DeJean was also the media’s choice for preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
DeJean was one of the Hawkeyes’ Big Ten media days representatives where he discussed some of the lofty expectations he’s receiving heading into the 2023 college football season.
“I’m grateful for all that, but, you know, it’s all preseason hype. Nobody’s played a game yet. We’re 0-0, so I just want to focus on what I can do to help this team win and focus on getting better this camp and really gelling with the defensive guys and becoming as good as we can as a unit,” DeJean said.
Iowa kicks off its season on Sept. 2 versus Utah State at 11 a.m. from inside Kinnick Stadium.
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