When Myles Price and Ke’Shawn Williams exhausted their eligibility after 2024, Indiana football had a hole at slot receiver.
The Hoosiers initially addressed that need in the transfer portal, adding Tyler Morris from Michigan. But Morris suffered a knee injury in spring football, and IU faced the same issue.
Head coach Curt Cignetti and his staff brought in Jonathan Brady from Cal during the post-spring portal window, but the program already had its solution on the roster. Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt spent spring ball focusing on versatility, to be able to move around the different wide receiver spots. Cooper wound up becoming Indiana’s starting slot receiver, and he’s off to a strong start to the 2025 season.
“A lot of talent. Really like Coop a lot. Explosive. Made some big plays for us last year. Was just looking for a little more play in, play out, day in, day out consistency from him. Guys have to be dependable. When you plan throughout the week and you want to get a guy the ball, you got to know that he’s going to be out there,” Cignetti said on his radio show Thursday. “But we’ve moved him into the slot, and he’s had a number of opportunities.”
Cooper enters the Illinois game leading the Big Ten with four touchdown receptions, and he’s third in receiving yards with 299 on 13 receptions.
Of course, much of that fast start came in one game, as the redshirt junior torched Indiana State for 10 receptions, 207 yards and four touchdowns. He earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for his standout performance.
Cooper isn’t playing exclusively in the slot — he’s still lined up out wide for 50 snaps in the first three weeks, per Pro Football Focus. But most of his action is coming inside this year. And all the reps in that area are helping him thrive.
“I think he’s really taken to it, cause he’s getting more opportunities. When you play outside … there’s a 50/50 chance you’re getting the ball if the ball goes outside. But when that ball goes into the slot, you’re getting all of them,” Cignetti said. “And I think as he’s gotten more balls, you’ve seen sort of his whole performance develop momentum. Positive momentum. And confidence.”
The Indianapolis native actually began the season with an inauspicious moment. Against Old Dominion, Cooper dropped what would’ve been a very long touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza. He still finished that game with 52 yards on two receptions, but that touchdown would’ve made Indiana’s victory much more comfortable.
But Cooper rebounded from that drop and is a big factor in Indiana’s offense. His ability to move inside to slot receiver has allowed E.J. Williams Jr. to step into a bigger role on the outside. And Cooper, himself, is becoming a reliable option for Mendoza and the Hoosiers.
“He was really great in space (against Indiana State). They couldn’t tackle him. Couldn’t run with him. He was a mismatch for them,” Cignetti said. “He’s had a good week of practice, and I really like the way he’s progressing.”
For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
