Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) defends a pass against Arizona State Sun Devils tight end Chamon Metayer (7) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images
AMES — As the records fell, the pressure mounted.
Iowa State’s historic 11-win 2024 season featured white-knuckle hairpin twists and turns — soaring highs and jarring lows that took the Cyclones to the Big 12’s grandest stage: Last December’s conference title game against Arizona State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Excitement spiked. A first-ever Big 12 championship appeared tantalizingly within reach. But on game day in “Jerry World,” ISU’s College Football Playoff hopes promptly fizzled out, evaporating into the ether so quickly and thoroughly that it became impossible to fully process the 45-19 blowout loss to the Sun Devils.
“Knowing the feeling that we worked so hard to get to that moment just to not show up — that was a different type of feeling I had never felt before,” senior Cyclone safety Jeremiah Cooper said last week as spring practice continued apace for his team. “It felt like we did all that just to be embarrassed, so that was a bad feeling for everybody, and that’s something that’s gonna stick with me.”
Not in a negative way, but as fuel for his final season. Dashed dreams conjure new and even bolder ones. And momentary embarrassment morphs into all-encompassing pride — and a dogged determination to max out in his last go-around.
Cooper’s not a fresh-faced upstart anymore. He’s fully absorbed the leadership lessons laid out by Anthony Johnson early in his college career, and Beau Freyler towards the end of it. So Cooper’s the next man up in that regard and fully prepared to fulfill that vital role for his fellow safeties, the defense, and his entire team.
“I’m taking everything I learned from (them) and applying it to me,” said Cooper, who boasts seven career interceptions, which is one shy of tying for 10th-best in program history. “It’s pretty cool leading the safety group. I mean, you’re the veteran in the group — it’s kind of crazy how fast things can change for you. But I’m not backing down from it. I love (those) boys so much. I’ll do anything for them.”
The 6-0, 190-pound Cooper leads all ISU defensive players in career starts (32) and consecutive starts (17). He’s seen it all and done it all, earning first team All-Big 12 honors as a sophomore while collecting honorable mention all-league accolades last season. He’s experienced a long 4-8 season rife with missed opportunities as well as last season’s remarkable 13-game body of work that drew a grade of incomplete because the Cyclones couldn’t seal the deal in Arlington.
In short, Cooper’s acquired wisdom and perspective through both hard work and hard knocks.
“I think he understands what it takes to be a leader, and I tink he has to learn to be that within his own realm,” said ISU safeties coach Deon Broomfield, whose unit also features promising returners such as Ta’Shawn James, Marcus Neal and Jamison Patton, among others. “Some guys, it doesn’t really come off as authentic if that’s not who you really are. So when he does speak, he’s a naturally quiet guy. He’s a more go about his business (type), but he will pull a guy off one-on-one and be able to do it. So I think as long as he leads within himself, I think guys will respect that and respond to it.”
Cooper’s done most of his talking on the field, combining strong ball-hawking skills with a penchant for hard-hitting tackles. He totaled five interceptions as a sophomore and despite snaring just two last season, he still led ISU with eight pass breakups. So when he “speaks” — with his voice or his on-the-job demeanor — teammates take heed.
“Coop always keeps your head straight,” said Neal, who made a career-high eight tackles in the Cyclones’ Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Miami. “That’s what I like. You can always go to Coop for anything, even outside football. He’s like a big brother.”
And an ambitious one at that. Cooper left Arlington last season deflated but undeterred. Emboldened, refocused, and always reaching for the stars.
“Win a championship, that’s it,” he said. “That’s all I want this team to do because I know we’ve been working towards it. It’s gotta happen.”
