Surprise SEC team earns first chance to impress elite top 12 recruit Derrek Cooper with official visit schedule
The No. 1 running back in the 2026 recruiting class has his pick of where to go to college, but one surprising SEC team made its way into his initial visit schedule. Of course, NIL and on-field powerhouses like Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State, Georgia, and Miami will host 5-star back Derrek Cooper. But few […]
The No. 1 running back in the 2026 recruiting class has his pick of where to go to college, but one surprising SEC team made its way into his initial visit schedule. Of course, NIL and on-field powerhouses like Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State, Georgia, and Miami will host 5-star back Derrek Cooper. But few might expect to see Auburn get the first summer visit.
On3 reported Auburn will indeed host Cooper on campus on May 16. He'll then visit Miami, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, and Ohio State.
The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, product is a top 12 overall prospect in the class for Rivals. At almost 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, his blend of speed and power is legit. His 2024 junior season highlights show a nuanced runner with a great first step and overall flexibility.
His top-end speed is good but not elite, but it doesn't matter when he accelerates past defenders and creates impossible tackling angles.
On3's recruiting projections have Miami as the most likely team to land the in-state talent, but Derrick Nix and the Tigers are second in line. Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama aren't far behind.
“All of the visits will have a big factor in my decision,” Cooper told On3. “I will be spending time with the players, I will see coaches coach, I will be around the school more and I will just get to see how comfortable I am."
“The coaching staff at Auburn is cool. Coach Nix is a cool coach, I like how he can develop and it is a good place.”
It's fair to say Cooper will be seeing through his entire slate of visits, but it sounds like he wants to make the call during the season so he can go to some games and commit during the fall.
