LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Another Indiana University football player was taken in the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft.
After quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected with the first pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was taken shortly after by the New York Jets at 30th overall.
IU’s last first-round pick in the NFL Draft came in 1994.
Thursday night marked the first time in IU history that two or more players have been selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft.
Louisville | Kentucky | Indiana | Eric Crawford
According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, Cooper’s average draft position was 93rd on Jan. 10, but he surged into first-round projections after IU’s postseason run.
The Indianapolis native played a major role in IU becoming undefeated national champions. He finished the season with 69 catches for 937 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.
His 13 receiving touchdowns were tied for the third-most in the country. This included a game-winning catch on the road against Penn State that'll forever be one of the most talked about moments in program history.
Cooper was the first Hoosier receiver drafted since Cody Latimer was taken by the Denver Broncos in 2014.
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