Texas A&M Aggies LB Edgerrin Cooper Named AP Midseason All-American

Edgerrin Cooper leads the nation in tackles for loss with 13.5 stops and is top 10 in sacks.

Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was named to the Associated Press midseason first-team All-American group after his pass-rushing skills reached new heights to begin the 2023 season.

Cooper, a third-year sensation from Covington, La., is tied for ninth in the nation with six sacks, all coming in conference games. He registered one against Auburn in the Aggies' SEC opener, one against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic and a career-high three against No. 11 Alabama.

Cooper also leads the nation in tackles for loss with 13.5 stops. No other A&M player has more than 7.5 tackles for loss or four sacks up through seven games.

Texas A&M linebacker Chris Russell (No. 24) makes a tackle on Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (No. 8) at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.  / Saul Young-USA TODAY Sports

A vocal leader and physical presence in the run game, Cooper has headlined a still-surging A&M (4-3, 2-2 SEC) defense under second-year coordinator D.J. Durkin. Despite allowing 232 rushing yards in a 20-13 loss against No. 19 Tennessee, the Aggies rank top-20 in run defense (105.1 yards per game) and 14th in yards per attempt (3.04).

A&M's front seven has excelled in putting pressure on quarterbacks, leading the nation with 29 sacks. The Aggies also lead all FBS programs in tackles for loss with 57 and are second in the nation in pressure rate behind James Madison.

Cooper was the only A&M player selected by the AP voters to the first or second-team midseason roster. He was one of nine SEC players selected for the first-team unit.

A&M is on its bye entering Week 8. The Aggies will return to Kyle Field next Saturday to take on South Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m.