Cooper DeJean carries a strong sense of confidence, and with good reason.
As one of the top defensive backs from the Iowa Hawkeyes, he’s expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, making his mark as one of the premier players to don the tigerhawk helmet.
During his time at Iowa, DeJean shared the spotlight with another standout athlete, Caitlin Clark, who was recently selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft. Clark, the all-time NCAA scoring leader, and DeJean have an interesting connection. DeJean playfully claims he could win against her in a one-on-one basketball game, despite her basketball prowess.
In a discussion with CBS Sports about his draft preparations, DeJean revealed that during interviews, teams were curious about his chances against Clark on the basketball court. “I said that I think I could win,” DeJean stated, showing his competitive spirit.
When questioned further, reflecting a hint of surprise at his answer, DeJean responded, “You don’t think I can win?” While acknowledging Clark’s exceptional talent and reputation as perhaps the greatest women’s basketball player ever, DeJean, who was a three-time letter winner at point guard in high school, remained optimistic about his chances. “She’d definitely score on me, for sure, but I think I could pull it off,” he conceded, admitting that Clark’s shooting ability would be his biggest hurdle.
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Unsurprisingly, social media quickly reacted to his claims:
Off the football field, DeJean also excelled in basketball, scoring 1,832 points and becoming the state’s all-time leader in steals during his high school career—talents that echo his knack for creating turnovers in football.
As the NFL Draft approaches, DeJean is poised to extend Iowa’s legacy of producing NFL talent. While a head-to-head matchup on the basketball court between Clark and DeJean would be intriguing, both athletes are focused on launching their professional careers in their respective sports.
