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Iowa Football: Cooper DeJean Voted Preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year

Cooper DeJean is an absolute superstar. The defensive back who’s been forced to move from safety to corner finished the 2022 season with 8 passes broken up, 5 interceptions and 3 pick-sixes. Put another way, DeJean scored more receiving touchdowns last season than all Iowa wide receivers combined. It was a new single-season record for interceptions returned for a touchdown at Iowa, a school with a rich history of producing incredible defensive back talent, and tied the school’s career mark in the category.

Now the Odebolt, Iowa native looks to improve on his remarkable sophomore season as he enters 2023 as a preseason All-American according to both Athlon and Phil Steele.