A second-team All-Big 12 pass rusher at Houston, Keith Cooper Jr. is working to turn practice squad stints into a permanent NFL defensive line role.
Keith Cooper Jr. is a defensive lineman who signed a reserve/future contract with the Miami Dolphins in January 2026. He built his college production at Tulane before a standout final season at Houston, and he is now trying to establish himself after brief runs with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
Path to the league
Cooper spent three seasons at Tulane from 2021 to 2023, racking up 73 tackles, 17 for loss and 10.5 sacks. He transferred to Houston for 2024 and started all 12 games, adding 46 tackles, nine for loss and 3.5 sacks while earning second-team All-Big 12 honors before going undrafted in 2025.
Career highlights
Cooper signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2025 and spent time on their practice squad before being released in October. He landed on the Cleveland Browns practice squad that December, gaining valuable NFL experience even as he searched for a permanent roster spot.
2025 season recap
Cooper appeared in one NFL game during the 2025 season while shuttling between the Lions' and Browns' practice squads. Miami signed him to a futures contract in January 2026, and he now enters the 2026 offseason competing for a defensive tackle role behind Miami's front seven.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Keith Cooper (American football)
- ESPN: Keith Cooper Jr.
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- Houston
- Hometown
- Dickinson, TX, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
