Omar Cooper Jr. Declares for NFL Draft, Leaving Indiana Hoosiers Without Top Receiver

Story by

Antonio G Losada

Mon, Jan 26, 2026 ·

2 min read

The Indiana Hoosiers are preparing for the defense of their College Football Playoff title without several key contributors following an impressive 16-0 championship campaign.

Head coach Curt Cignetti will be tasked with reshaping the team’s wide receiver room, among others, as it will lose the production of graduating seniors E.J. Williams Jr. and Elijah Sarratt .

The most significant loss, however, came on Monday and wasn't guaranteed until it was confirmed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel .

The analyst reported that redshirt junior wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has formally declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, thus removing three of the top wideouts in receiving yards from the 2026 Hoosiers roster.

Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. (3) celebrates with Elijah Sarratt (13) after scoring a touchdown.© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(© Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

"Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is on the list of five players from the national title game who have submitted written notice to the NFL that they are declaring for the NFL Draft, per ESPN sources," Thamel wrote. "Cooper led Indiana in receiving yards this season with 937 yards.

According to Thamel, Cooper submitted his notice to the league on Jan. 24, one day after the NCAA deadline to declare.

"The other four players are known — Rueben Bain and Francis Mauigoa of Miami and Fernando Mendoza and D'Angelo Ponds from Indiana," Thamel wrote. "The NFL received notice on Jan. 24, as the deadline to declare was Jan. 23."

Cooper’s decision removes Indiana’s top offensive weapon from the roster. He finished the 2025 season with 69 catches for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns, earning second-team All-America honors.

Cooper moved inside to the slot this past year (83.3% of his snaps came in that alignment) and made the most of it, forcing 27 missed tackles and catching over 75 percent of his targets, per Pro Football Focus .

Cignetti spoke highly of Cooper’s progression throughout the season, saying, “He's an explosive player. He's good after the catch. He’s hard to tackle. He just keeps getting better and better. I think it's all in front of him. I really do.”

The Hoosiers' wideout is considered a top-75 prospect , the No. 12 WR in the class, and should hear his name called on Day 2 of April’s NFL draft, which will take place in Pittsburgh.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.