Iowa defensive back
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 the game, they love to teach the game, and it made me a better player than ever over
00:06 the past three years that I've been here.
00:08 So that's a lot to consider as well.
00:11 Are you surprised to be in this decision after just three years?
00:14 Yeah, if you asked me three years ago if I'd be in this situation, I'd tell you no.
00:24 To be honest, when I first committed here and got here, I didn't even know if I could
00:31 play at this level coming from a small town school in Iowa.
00:38 But I've just tried to come in every day and work my hardest.
00:44 I have great coaches and teammates around me who've helped me learn the game on a deeper
00:49 level.
00:50 What was the hardest thing about your injury?
00:53 Was there a moment, was it the moment you were laying there, a couple games later?
00:57 Can you walk us through what you were going through?
01:00 Just not being out there early, just having to watch on the sideline.
01:06 That first game, the week I got injured, and then I came back to watch the Illinois game,
01:15 even on the sideline before the game, as the national anthem was going off.
01:23 Just looking up at the flag, it was pretty emotional.
01:28 Just not being able to be out there with these guys after everything we've gone through this
01:33 season, just fighting each and every Saturday together, not being able to be out there was
01:39 pretty tough.
01:40 How soon would you like to make a decision?
01:44 There's no set date.
01:45 I'm just trying to take my time with it, really, and enjoy this process, being around these
01:53 guys.
01:54 There's no really set date.
01:57 I'm just trying to get as many questions answered as I can.
02:01 What's your guys' collective reaction to Phil winning the Broyles Award?
02:05 I think everybody was really excited for him.
02:09 He's not a guy who really likes the spotlight, as many of you guys know.
02:16 It's really cool to see what he's done get recognized on a national level.
02:22 I think he deserves it.
02:24 He probably could win it every year, I think, with what he does with our defense.
02:32 It's definitely really exciting to see.
02:34 All the guys are really happy for him.
02:37 You're DB of the year in the Big Ten, too.
02:40 For not getting a full season, you're on that select list, I guess.
02:45 It's a cool group to be a part of, especially with all the Iowa guys that are in there as
02:50 well.
02:51 It's a tremendous honor, I think, to be a part of that group.
02:57 Talk to me a little bit about your reflection over the last three years.
03:00 I don't know if you even look back.
03:01 Maybe five years ago, it was March or April of 2020 when you committed.
03:02 I drove out there to Ida Grove to chat with you on the track there.
03:03 I think I was the only one there to do an interview with you, a shy little kid from
03:11 Ida Grove.
03:12 I saw that video on Twitter the other day.
03:13 I looked like a little kid.
03:14 You've grown into being a little bit more well-spoken since then, I'll say that much,
03:20 at least.
03:21 Do you look back on that and just be like, "Man, I feel like you and your whole family
03:25 has to look back and just be like, 'Wow, a lot has changed over the last five years.'"
03:28 Yeah.
03:29 It was definitely a surprise when I saw that video, just looking back on how much of a
03:35 baby I looked like.
03:37 It didn't have much weight on me.
03:43 It's really cool to look back on it, actually, to be honest, with my family as well.
03:47 We've been talking about it over this past month or so.
03:51 It's really cool to look back on to see where I've come from and just to try and show kids
04:00 from small towns in Iowa or around my area that this is possible, to put yourself in
04:07 this position to play Division I football at the highest level and to have these different
04:13 opportunities to take that next step.
04:17 A lot of times the rehab process can be a lonely process.
04:19 You talked about getting emotional during National Anthem.
04:21 How have you stayed engaged with the team?
04:24 It seems like you're just as happy, if not happier, than when you guys had success just
04:28 from videos and watching you.
04:29 How have you maintained emotionally and in check with everything going on?
04:33 Really just staying around these guys, to be honest.
04:38 I chose to stay here after surgery because I felt that was best for me.
04:43 Just to still be involved, be in meetings, be around the guys.
04:49 That's what's most fun to me about playing college football, just being around these
04:55 guys and enjoying our time together while also being serious and talking about football
05:00 each and every day.
05:04 It's definitely been tough.
05:05 It's had its tough moments, but I've just tried to stay engaged as much as I can to
05:10 keep my mind off it as well.
05:11 I imagine as competitive as you are, going to Indianapolis and watching everything, is
05:18 that as big of a gut punch as you've maybe had all year, just not being able to be out
05:23 there in uniform and compete?
05:25 Really every game, to be honest.
05:28 I've never really gone through an injury like this.
05:32 It's been a big challenge for me, just trying to take it step by step and not rush anything.
05:40 Not being out there, whether it's in Indianapolis or those other two or three games I've missed,
05:48 it was definitely a really tough game.
05:50 Obviously you can't play, but when it comes to Iowa Hawkeyes playing in bowl games, the
05:54 ones that have decisions usually play.
05:56 You were last year with Jack and Sam, and Torrey's playing this year and all these guys.
06:00 What is it about that?
06:01 Why does this place seem a little different than maybe the rest of NCAA football when
06:04 it comes to playing in bowl games?
06:06 I think it's just guys wanting to play for their teammates.
06:11 We build such strong relationships with one another.
06:16 You don't want to let that go.
06:17 You want to give your all, as many opportunities as you get, and play for this coaching staff
06:24 as well.
06:25 I think these guys make you feel loved around here, and they love to teach the game.
06:31 They give you so much.
06:33 It just makes you want to give it back to them.
06:36 Walk me through how the injury happened.
06:39 Did you realize right away that it was going to be as severe as it's been?
06:43 Yeah.
06:44 I kind of just was planning.
06:48 I planned it wrong, and it just broke, I guess.
06:55 Getting up, I knew something was wrong.
06:56 I was trying to walk off the field.
06:59 It didn't feel too well.
07:02 I didn't know how severe it was, but I knew it was probably pretty bad.
07:09 Jumped in late.
07:10 Two more questions.
07:11 Where you at with the decision on coming back?
07:14 Does the thought of maybe getting your name on the side of Kinnick weigh in your mind
07:19 in that decision?
07:20 I've heard that a little bit as I've been trying to make this decision, but I'm really
07:27 not in any sort of rush.
07:29 I'm trying to weigh all my options, talk to as many people as I can, just to make sure
07:36 it's the best decision for me going forward.
07:40 What does it mean that you were injured and you still had a couple games left, and yet
07:44 you were a unanimous first team All-American?
07:47 Every outlet in the country thought that you were the best player in your position.
07:53 Yeah.
07:54 It's really cool.
07:55 There's only a select few guys who get that honor.
08:00 Being alongside Torrey, it's really cool recognition, I guess, if you will.
08:11 I said this earlier.
08:12 I think it's just a testament to what we've accomplished as a defense and special teams
08:16 unit, really as a team, just staying together and fighting together.
08:21 I wouldn't be able to get all these accolades or whatever without those guys.
08:28 So really, I think it's a testament to our whole group as a whole.
08:32 Is that to say that you're going to have your portrait in the All-American room?
08:38 Not really.
08:39 I don't think it will until I see it out there.
08:42 Thanks, Cooper.