Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will enter the 2024 NFL Draft

Edgerrin Cooper, who emerged as an All-American caliber linebacker this football season, announced on Tuesday that he is opting out of the 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl and will enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Aggies (7-5) face No. 20 Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27. Cooper’s decision to sit out leaves the Aggies without their best defensive player.

In his second year as a starter, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior easily has had the best season of his career.

Cooper led the Aggies in four defensive statistical categories.

He led the team with 84 tackles. He led the team and the Southeastern Conference with 17 tackles for loss. Cooper also led A&M and tied for fourth in the SEC with eight sacks. He led A&M with 10 quarterback pressures.

He also broke up two passes and forced two fumbles.

A noted wild hog hunter, Cooper came to Texas A&M as a four-star recruit in 2020. He was fifth rated prospect in the state of Louisiana, was ranked ninth in the country among linebacker prospects and was rated 115th overall in the nation.

In his first season, Cooper posted just two sacks. As a backup in 2021, he had 58 stops with 5.5 resulting in lost yardage. He also had an interception.

The following season in 2022, Cooper became a full-time starter. He posted 61 tackles, eight tackles for loss and had an interception against Auburn.

He also forced a fumble by LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, which Demani Richardson returned for a momentum-changing touchdown in A&M’s season-closing 38-23 victory.

Cooper completes his A&M career with 205 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions.