Cooper comes into the 2016 season having racked up 32 tackles and six sacks in his 26 career games. A third team All-Big Ten preseason selection by Athlon Sports, Cooper takes over at defensive end. He redshirted his freshman year but has played in 26 of 27 games since. The native of Illinois is currently ahead of Gabe Sherrod on the depth chart, though graduate transfer Sherrod will see playing time. Cooper’s development will be key in holding the defensive line's reputation as a wall.
The Spartan defensive line is going through a major overhaul with three out of four starters leaving. Former Spartans Shilique Calhoun, Joel Heath and Lawrence Thomas are graduating. All three players were invited to the NFL combine, showcasing the type of talent MSU had on their defensive line.
As players graduate, there are other, younger players who step up and take their spots. One player who is poised to take advantage of his playing time is junior defensive lineman Demetrius Cooper.
For Cooper, the stats speak for themselves. He had a successful season in 2015 after ranking second on the team with five sacks and fifth in tackles for loss with 6.5 for 16 yards.
He said he knows there will be a ton of expectations, as Cooper is now listed atop the depth chart at defensive end. But he’s embracing the opportunity after sitting behind other guys most of his career.
“It feels good (being at the top of the depth chart),” Cooper said. “After three years of working hard and three years of sitting behind veterans like Shilique Calhoun, Marcus Rush and LT (Lawrence Thomas), it feels good to be able to step onto that scene and (figure out) how they did things, I can come in and keep that train rolling.”
The only player returning for the Spartans on the defensive line is junior Malik McDowell, who had a splendid season in his own right last fall. McDowell was named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.
While Cooper had a solid season in 2015, McDowell said he understands why he wasn’t a starter on the defensive line last fall. Being behind former All-American Shilique Calhoun will do that to a player.
“(Cooper) was behind Shilique (Calhoun) last year — when you have a player like that in front of you, you just have to work a lot harder,” McDowell said. “He was good last year, he was just trying to compete with Shilique.”
Going further, though, Cooper will need to be a leader for the defensive line in 2016. There are expectations to be met, and it starts with the younger guys for this team.
“The expectation is to get the younger guys more reps so we can keep the train rolling,” Cooper said. “We graduated three seniors, three starters. I’m stepping up and Malik (McDowell) is a returning starter. We’re trying to get the younger guys like Raequan Williams some more reps. The younger d-line, getting them more reps and get them the feel of the game.”
As for the rest of spring practice, he said he knows the more scrimmages the team has will be beneficial to the team. While there are nerves, especially for the younger guys, working to control it is one of the many factors they will have to do.
“The main thing is about going out there and having fun,” Cooper said. “We’ll be out there with nerves because of the scrimmage, nerves because you have to show the coaches what you can do. Just go out there and play your game. Be you and just have fun. … You being nervous and you’re worried about making a mistake — that’s when you’re going to make a mistake."
As for the Spartan's first scrimmage last Saturday, the defense won it 38-27. With the annual Green and White game coming up on April 23, there are still plenty of spring practices. Cooper will be looking to hone his craft the rest of the way through.
"First scrimmage was a success, looking forward to the next one," Cooper said. "I’m looking forward to the rest of spring ball.”
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