HOUSTON – One of the top defensive prospects in the draft and linebackers overall, Texas A&M defensive standout Edgerrin Cooper cemented that status with a strong Pro Day performance.
Cooper ran the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds with Texans general manager Nick Caserio among the personnel in attendance at the Aggies’ workout. He also had a 34 1/2 inch vertical leap and a 9-10 broad jump after having a 4.52 at the NFL scouting combine.
“Just proving what I can do on the field,” Cooper said. “Just seeing how I move on the field. Linebacker drills, just wanted to show what I can do. My film shows itself.”
Cooper has visits with the Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I think when you watch him on film last year, he’s everything you want an NFL linebacker to be,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said. “He’s got unbelievable speed, twitch, athleticism. He’s a great blitzer. He can cover. We saw a little bit of it my last year here when he was a true freshman, and I told him this last night. It’s just great to see him grow into what he’s become and he’s going to make some NFL franchise really proud that they drafted him for sure.”
Cooper, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound Louisiana native who models his game after San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, is a consensus All-American who had 83 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, 17 tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries last season.
“We have similar body styles,” Cooper said of Warner. “We have the ability to go sideline to sideline and make plays.”
At the combine, he met formally with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Eagles and Cowboys.
“I’ve talked to a lot of teams,” Cooper said. “It’s a good problem to have. Whoever wants me, I’m ready to put on a show.”
On Texans coach DeMeco Ryans and wanting to play for him, Cooper said “It would be cool. I just want to make plays.”
Meanwhile, Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 and 4.51 seconds with a 6.86 three-cone drill. Smith wasn’t able to run at the combine due to a stress fracture in his shin.
“Just his determination for the game, how hard he works,” Cooper said. “He wants to put the team in the best position possible.”
Smith played at the Senior Bowl all-star game and tested despite his shin throbbing.
“So with me being a little disappointed in my numbers, they were telling me that it was all smooth because I’m running on a broken leg,” Smith said. “It sounds smooth, but, honestly, I got good reaction from it, though, for sure. I feel like I did smooth, honestly,
“I didn’t really get the times that I had wanted. I was hearing a range from like high 4.4s-low 4.5s. Cooler day, I feel like I did pretty well in the drills, did well in doing running back and receiver. Also got some punt catches there early, so feel like I had a pretty smooth day overall.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.
Photo: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images