Texas A&M Aggies LB Edgerrin Cooper Declares For 2024 NFL Draft, Won't Play In Texas Bowl

Edgerrin Cooper is off to the NFL draft after a breakout season in College Station.

Eddgerin Cooper has played his last down in College Station. 

Cooper, who dazzled in 2023 as the Texas A&M Aggies' top defensive player, officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, announcing the news Tuesday via X. The senior Aggie linebacker had one season of eligibility remaining.

Cooper also announced he would not play in the TaxAct Texas Bowl against No. 20 Oklahoma State on Dec. 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston. He is the second player to officially announce he would not play in the bowl game, joining senior receiver Ainias Smith. 

Defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson and offensive lineman Layden Robinson both declared earlier this month but did not reveal their status for the bowl game. 

A native of Covington, La., Cooper posted one of the best seasons for an A&M defensive player in recent memory. Leading the SEC in tackles for loss (17), Cooper posted a career-high and team-leading 84 tackles. He also led A&M and tied for fourth in the SEC with eight sacks.

Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (45) celebrates a tackle against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second quarter at Kyle Field / ©️ Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

Cooper also led A&M with 10 quarterback pressures and recorded two pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.

The award season was kind to Cooper, who was named a consensus First-Team All-American Monday by the Associated Press. He also garnered First Team All-SEC accolades from the league's coaches and was also named a First Team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Athletic and CBS Sports, and a Second Team All-American by the FWAA.

Cooper emerged as a household name in NFL draft rooms after his performance against LSU in last year's regular-season finale. He forced a fumble against LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, which led to a Demani Richardson recovery for a momentum-changing touchdown. The Aggies would go on to end their six-game SEC streak with the 38-23 upset. 

Aggies OL Layden Robinson Declares For 2024 NFL Draft

For his Aggie career, Cooper finished with 205 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.