Cornerback is considered one of the hardest positions to master on the football field. But Iowa star Cooper DeJean is one of the best of the 2024 NFL Draft class.
Corners are often undersized compared to their matchup, and they're always at the disadvantage of not knowing what the wide receiver is going to do next. To succeed, they need quick-twitch athleticism and unwavering confidence, especially at the highest level.
DeJean — a projected first-round pick in this year's draft — proved he has that necessary confidence. But not because of something he did on the football field.
Ahead of the draft, DeJean told Yahoo Sports he believes he could beat legendary Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark one-on-one.
"A lot of teams have asked me if I could beat Caitlin Clark one-on-one," DeJean said of his pre-draft interviews with NFL front offices.
"I said I think I can. She'd probably score a few buckets on me but I think I could pull it off."
Iowa CB Cooper DeJean thinks he can beat Caitlin Clark one-on-one 😮 @IowaAwesome pic.twitter.com/U2qX8MoTKl
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 24, 2024
Clark set the sports world ablaze after establishing herself as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time this past season. She parlayed that scorching run into the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, and she is set to star for the Indiana Fever this summer.
Would DeJean actually have a chance at beating Clark one-on-one? His high school basketball career suggests he would have a better shot than you might think.
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Did Cooper DeJean play basketball?
DeJean didn't just play high school basketball — he was a star at Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove (OABCIG) in Ida Grove, Iowa.
The 6-1 guard scored 1,832 points and tallied 218 steals over three varsity seasons, according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association record book. (For what it's worth, Clark finished with 2,547 points in four years at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines.)
He scored more points than Harrison Barnes (1,787), who became a future McDonald's All-American, University of North Carolina star, top-10 NBA Draft pick and NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors.
DeJean's touted athleticism shines through his high school basketball mixtape, which has caught fire on the internet since he claimed he could take on Clark.
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DeJean certainly has the strength, speed and athleticism to take Clark, but he is only one inch taller than the WNBA star, who measures in at 6 feet tall. Clark's skill is undeniably far superior, putting DeJean at a clear disadvantage.
You have to respect the confidence, though. Especially in an NFL Draft interview setting, you'd have to imagine teams are asking DeJean that question to make sure he has the self-faith to hold his own at one of the toughest positions in the sport.
