Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean to miss remainder of season with injury

Hawkeyes Report> He might also miss the half of 2024 season because….

Cooper DeJean, Iowa’s superstar defensive back and punt return specialist, will miss the remainder of the season with an injury, head coach Kirk Ferentz announced Wednesday.

“This is truly heartbreaking for Cooper,” Ferentz said in a news release. “He has played extremely well and is a real playmaker on our team. We will all support Cooper during his recovery, which will continue into the new year.”

DeJean, a preseason first-team All-American by the Associated Press, has been a leader for the Hawkeye defense for the last two years. The OABCIG graduate has seven career interceptions, three of which he has returned for touchdowns, to go along with a punt return touchdown that was key in Iowa’s win vs. Michigan State last month.

More recently, DeJean nearly saved the day again when he returned a punt for a touchdown in the waning moments of a tight game versus Minnesota, but a controversial call brought the touchdown back and ultimately led to the Golden Gophers winning at Kinnick.

DeJean was named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Wednesday.

Redshirt freshman Deshaun Lee was listed as DeJean’s backup at cornerback on the latest depth chart released earlier this week.

Iowa hosts Illinois on Saturday for Senior Day. The Hawkeyes can clinch a Big Ten title game berth with a win.