It's been a busy couple of months for former Covington standout Edgerrin Cooper.
First, the Green Bay Packers drafted the Texas A&M linebacker in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft on April 26. He was the 45th overall pick and the first linebacker selected.
Then came the transition to the NFL after he signed his standard four-year rookie contract totaling $8.598 million with a signing bonus of $3.073 million.
So far, so good for the 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker as the rookie looks to be well on his way into the first-team defense in training camp.
He made a good impression during minicamp as Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur told Packers.com after the final minicamp practice that he called a play designed to fool or deceive Cooper in some way, but the second-round draft pick didn't bite.
"I thought for sure we were going to get him on (it), and he did a heck of a job," LaFleur said. "I was kind of teasing the other coaches, 'Did you preview him for that play?' And they did not.
"So, that's a credit to him and just how engaged he's been and how locked in he's been throughout the course of the offseason."
Cooper told Packers.com that his biggest focus is improving the mental part of his game.
"I feel like especially this last week, week and a half, I was able to actually relax in my head," Cooper said during minicamp. "I'm starting to pick it up. So right now, it's just, you know, playing ball. It feels good to where I don't have to think as much and just do what I do."
Cooper is enjoying a bit of a mental break before the full grind of his first NFL season begins on July 17, when players are required to report to training camp.
Cooper is back in Covington, and he returned to the place where it all began — Jack Salter Stadium — as he helped out with the annual Covington High Youth Football Clinic on June 28.
Farmer sports editor Joseph Halm caught up with Cooper for a brief Q&A about football, life and more.
What is it like being back at Jack Salter Stadium?
"It feels good. Just being back where I started, and now, I see the results of all the work that I put in to get to where I'm at. Just seeing all the kids around here is fun. I hope that I can give them some motivation to believe that anything is possible."
What was draft night like for you?
"It was crazy. It still hasn't hit me yet. It's a crazy feeling to say that I'm a professional football player. Just being able to say that means a lot."
What has life been like with the Packers?
"We've had rookie minicamp and all the OTAs. Being able to learn from the older guys has been great. I feel like I've been able to adapt quickly. I'm just trying to make plays. I want to let my coaches and my teammates know what I'm here for."
What's been the biggest jump you've faced from college to the pros?
"At the end of the day, it's still football. Now, it's just about setting a different routine at a different location and meeting new people. I'm learning the way the coaches teach. It's all those little things that add up. I'm just focused on getting back in a rhythm and going from there."
How did your time at Covington set the foundation for your success?
"Being able to see where I came from is special. I always trusted the process and took those hints from my coaches to get better. I learned so much here. And just kept doing what I had to do, and it worked out."
What has been your key to success?
"It's just the little things. Doing the right things when nobody is watching. You want to set a foundation for you to be successful and be the person that you want to be. You have to listen to the people who have been there and been close to where you want to be. I just followed those directions."
What does the future hold for you?
"Staying humble and staying hungry. A lot of people can make it to the NFL, but now, it's about how long I can stay in it. I feel like I have more to prove. I want people to look at me on the field and say, 'He's a dog.' Now that I'm at the next level, I want to perform and prove that I belong."