Tag: Derrek Cooper

2026 4-star RB out of Hollywood (FL) places Texas A&M in his Top 10 program list

2026 is a finalist for one of the rising running back prospect in the 2026 recruiting class

Every major college football program focuses on recruiting in the early winter months. With the talented 2026 cycle under the microscope, coach Mike Elko and his staff have landed ten commitments, including four-star wide receiver Aaron Gregory.

Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class is ranked fourth nationally (On3) with 10 commitments. While the class is versatile position-wise, OC Collin Klein’s scheme is predicated on running back depth, which hindered the Aggies this past season.

On Tuesday, 2026 four-star running back Derrek Cooper announced his top 10 programs, which include Texas A&M, Georgia, Miami (FL), Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Penn State, and Ole Miss.

Cooper is a two-way player with borderline elite athleticism. While his experience as a safety and linebacker is intriguing, his speed, footwork, and vision as a running back have every program listed consider him a running back at the next level.

During his 2024 junior season at Chaminade-Madona Prep, Cooper rushed for 905 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he recorded 46 tackles, four sacks, ten tackles for loss, an interception, and four pass deflections.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty

Texas A&M is atop the program list for 2026 5-star ATH out of Holllywood (FL)

Texas A&M is a finalist to land 2025 5-star athlete Derrek Cooper

Texas A&M’s 2026 recruiting class is now the fourth-ranked cycle after the Aggies landed their 10th commitment in four-star wide receiver Madden Williams on Saturday afternoon. So far, coach Mike Elko and his staff have landed five offensive and five defensive commits.

Looking to add its first running back to the cycle, Texas A&M is now a program favorite among five other schools to land a commitment from five-star RB Derrek Cooper, one of the top athletes in Florida.

Next season, Texas A&M’s running back room is very deep, as the return of incoming senior RB Le’Veon Moss headlines a group that includes Rueben Owens and Amari Daniels, coupled with freshmen Jamarion Morrow and Deondre “Tiger” Riden.

Coopers’ talent is unquestionable. Although he is viewed as a running back for the next level, this junior athlete stands out as one of Florida’s top defensive backs. He played safety and linebacker in the 2023 season before transferring to Chaminade-Madonna Prep.

After taking an unofficial visit to College Station during A&M’s 2024 season finale loss to Texas, Cooper is a name to watch this spring/summer.

According to 247Sports, Cooper is currently positioned as the 28th-ranked prospect in the 2026 class, the 4th-ranked athlete, and the 5th-ranked prospect in Florida.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Four-star ATH Derrek Cooper enjoys ‘surreal’ visit to Auburn

Cooper, the No. 1 athlete from the 2026 class, is coached by former Auburn running back Shaun Shivers at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Florida.

Auburn football is going through a rough patch, but Tiger fans still make Jordan-Hare Stadium a challenging venue. Evidence of that can be seen from the eyes of recruits on campus for visits last weekend.

[autotag]Derrek Cooper[/autotag], the No. 1 athlete from the 2026 class from Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida, was on campus last weekend alongside fellow Auburn commitment [autotag]Denairius Gray[/autotag] and former Auburn running back [autotag]Shaun Shivers[/autotag], who coaches both athletes.

Cooper raved about his visit to the Plains with On3’s Cole Pinkston, including the exciting environment during the Tigers’ game with Oklahoma.

“Man, the experience was so surreal,” Cooper said in an interview with On3. “Every first down the crowd was just hyped, everything was so loud I could barely think. It was so loud, I loved the crowd tonight. It looked solid tonight. Oklahoma is a great team. It was a good game today.”

Cooper also tells On3 that Auburn is in the early stages of recruiting him, and says that Auburn coaches are recruiting him to play either safety or running back. When it comes to relationships, Cooper says that he wants to continue building one with head coach [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] as his recruitment continues.

Cooper is the No. 1 athlete from the 2026 cycle according to Rivals, ESPN, and On3’s Industry Rankings. He is also Florida’s No. 1 overall recruit from the cycle by Rivals’ standards.

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on  X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__

Four-star decommits from Georgia after four days

Four-star class of 2026 athlete decommits from UGA football after less than a week

The Georgia Bulldogs lost a commitment from four-star athlete Derrek Cooper. Cooper was committed to Georgia football for less than a week. The talented four-star announced his commitment to Georgia over Alabama, Florida State and Miami a few days ago.

Cooper, who is a member of the class of 2026, is projected to play running back in college. Cooper is listed at 6 feet, 190 pounds and plays high school football at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida.

The four-star is ranked as the No. 52 recruit in the country and the third-ranked athlete in the nation, per 247Sports. Cooper is the No. 6 recruit in Florida.

[lawrence-related id=102540]

The Chaminade-Madonna star played safety, where he recorded 49 tackles and four interceptions last season. He also played running back. Now, five-star quarterback Jared Curtis is Georgia’s only commitment in the class of 2026. Head coach Kirby Smart and Georgia football are on a roll in recruiting in recent days despite Cooper’s decommitment.

Four-star athlete commits to the Bulldogs

Four-star running back announces his commitment to Georgia over Alabama, Florida State, and Miami.

The Georgia Bulldogs have been off to a hot start in the month of June, and they received more good news in the world of recruiting on Thursday night. Derrek Cooper, a four-star running back out of Hollywood, Florida, announced his commitment to Georgia over Alabama, Florida State, and Miami.

Cooper is listed as an athlete and a running back on most recruiting services, having played on both sides in high school. His primary recruiter at UGA is running backs coach Josh Crawford, indicating that he would stay at the position with the Bulldogs. When asked by On3 about Crawford and Georgia’s plan for him, Cooper said, “He likes my ability to catch the ball and play receiver as a back. That’s a big part of one of their offenses.”

Cooper is listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, and plays high school football at Chaminade-Madonna Prep. He caught nine passes for 71 yards as a receiver last year, and spent most of his time at safety, where he recorded 49 tackles an four interceptions. He joins five-star quarterback Jared Curtis as the Bulldogs’ second commit in the class of 2026.

Ohio State football offers former teammate of Jeremiah Smith

The Buckeyes head back out to Chaminade-Madonna with another offer. #GoBucks

Part of the recruiting process is looking at the current class while also keeping an eye on upcoming cycles, and Ohio State football has done a great job of that.

While recruiting Florida wide receiver, [autotag]Jeremiah Smith[/autotag], the Buckeye coaches got a good look at one of his teammates, 2026 running back, [autotag]Derrek Cooper[/autotag]. An Ohio State offer was made to the 6-foot, 1-inch, 290-pound ball carrier on Thursday evening.

Cooper is viewed as one of the top players in the country, ranking as the No. 78 overall prospect and 7th athlete according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He could end up also playing in the secondary, but the Buckeyes are recruiting him as a back.

Smith seems like he’s confident that his former high school teammate will join him in Columbus, which is surely a good sign. It’s never easy luring a Florida star up North, but if one non-southern school has that kind of pull, its Ohio State.

Contact/Follow @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Michael Chen on X.