Despite going undrafted over the weekend, former Slippery Rock offensive lineman Joe Cooper’s NFL dreams remain alive.
On Sunday, following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft, Cooper accepted a rookie minicamp invitation from the New York Jets, giving the consensus All-American left tackle an opportunity to earn a roster spot at the professional level.
After starting 38 consecutive games for The Rock over the past three seasons, Cooper now faces his biggest challenge yet, translating his collegiate success to the professional level.
Despite interest from larger programs over the previous offseason, Cooper remained committed to head coach Shawn Lutz, a decision that shaped both his career and legacy in the white and green.
“[Cooper] chose to stay here and finish his career at SRU this year, which tells you a lot about the kind of person and teammate he is,” said Lutz. “We know he is going to keep working hard to prove he can play at the next level.”
“Slippery Rock wanted me as a raw prospect out of high school,” Cooper previously told The Rocket. “They poured blood, sweat and tears into me to develop me into the player and man I am today.”
Throughout his senior season, Cooper served as captain on an offensive line that allowed just ten sacks while helping power one of the PSAC’s most productive offenses. Meanwhile, Cooper racked up numerous accolades such as All-American and multiple first-team honors.
Now Cooper will look to build a new legacy in white and green, this time with a ‘Jets’ logo on his helmet instead of an ‘S.’ With the Jets likely moving him to be an interior offensive lineman, Cooper will have a chance to represent Slippery Rock on the national level.
For SRU football, Cooper’s minicamp opportunity adds another milestone to the program’s growing reputation for producing professional-caliber talent, following recent examples such as Kyle Sheets and Henry Litwin.
Jets rookie minicamp is set to begin May 8 and conclude May 10, during which Cooper will compete to earn either a contract with either New York or a different team.
