Darius Cooper is one of the biggest sleepers in the 2025 NFL Draft. His powerful build, body control, athleticism, and production all look the part of a surefire NFL talent, and yet he is barely getting any buzz in a very deep 2025 NFL Draft wide receiver class.

The 5th year senior had an exceptional pro day, and could be one of the more unknown names to be drafted on April 26th.

Read on to see BNB Football’s complete Darius Cooper scouting report, which includes his strengths, weaknesses, production, and measurables.

Prospect: Darius Cooper
School: Tarleton State
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 5’11″
Weight: 213
Class: Redshirt Senior (5th Year)
40 Yard Dash: 4.48
Vertical Jump: 38″

Darius Cooper NFL Draft Profile Overview

Watching South Dakota-Tarleton football to scout a couple USD players, but Darius Cooper, WR, Tarleton State has stolen the show.

Strong frame, natural hands, excellent body control, high IQ.

Draft eligible FCS All-American, he’ll be a steal late day 3 or UDFA pic.twitter.com/Hwr3ZPTK80

— Brady Balhorn – BNB Football (@BnbFootball) February 15, 2025

Darius Cooper was a high school quarterback for Hazelwood West High School in St. Louis, Missouri. He was lightly recruited, with his only D1 offer coming from Tarleton State who was about to begin their first season as a D1 team.

After starting his college career as a QB, he quickly transitioned to wide receiver where he paid his dues on special teams.

After playing sparingly through his first two seasons in 2020 and 2021, Cooper got his chance in 2022.

It only took two games until Cooper made his presence known, putting up over 100 yards receiving against a TCU defense led by future NFL draft picks Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and Josh Newton.

From that point on Cooper was one of the best receivers in the FCS, finishing his career as Tarleton’s all time leader in receiving while averaging north of 19 yards per reception.

But what allowed Darius Cooper to excel? It was a combination of everything you look for in a receiver: Athleticism, instincts, intelligence, strength, and good hands.

Cooper has a powerful Deebo Samuels-type build, weighing in at 5’11” 210+ pounds. He pairs that with a verified 4.48 40 yard dash and a 38″ vertical, athletic testing measurables that are backed up by the tape. He’s explosive off the line of scrimmage and capable of pulling away from DBs on deep routes.

His hands are solid and he has great footwork while working along the side lines. He’s consistently been praised for his natural football instincts, and is a selfless leader who remained committed to his team all 5 years without transferring, all while becoming an Academic All-American.

He wasn’t just an Academic All-American, but also an FCS 1st Team All-American this past season who averaged over 90 yards per game through his past 3 seasons. He saved his best for last this past season, closing out the year with 718 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns over his final 5 games, while catching 36 of his 43 targets.

Cooper is also a highly experienced special teams player who can earn his role on the team even as WR4 or WR5.

Technique can be cleaned up in some areas, both as a route runner and at the point of the catch. But all the uncoachable traits fit right in with the wide receivers at the Combine or the Senior Bowl.

Darius Cooper College Stats

In 48 career college games, Darius Cooper accumulated 164 receptions for 3185 receiving yards and 29 receiving touchdowns.

REC YDs = Receiving Yards
REC TDs = Receiving Touchdowns
Y/C = Yards Per Catch
REC% = % of team’s receiving yardage accounted for
YPRR = Yards Per Route Run

Accolades

• 1st Team All-American (2024)
• 1st Team All-Conference (2024, 2022)
• 2nd Team All-Conference (2023)

Strengths

• Extremely productive
• Great size-speed combination
• Long arms
• Good body control
• Accelerates into his cuts, changes direction well
• Intelligent on and off the field

Weaknesses

• Too many body catches
• Needs better releases from the line
• Doesn’t break as many tackles as you’d expect from someone his size
• Low level of competition
• Simple route tree with a lot of slants

Grade

7th Round

The tape pops consistently for Darius Cooper, showing impressive top level speed and good hands.

While he’ll need to clean up his technique especially as a route runner and releasing from the line of scrimmage, he’s proven to be very coachable and has a ton of traits NFL teams will covet. His body control and speed at 213 pounds is very uncommon, and he’s consistently been impossible to cover in college.

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Thank you for reading our Darius Cooper NFL Draft Scouting Report. If you have anything to add, please leave in below in the comments. Best of luck to Darius in his NFL career.