News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
DETROIT – A consensus All-American and one of the nation’s most productive defensive players last season, Edgerrin Cooper was selected with the 45th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft Friday night.
Cooper was an unstoppable force in his junior season, helping the Aggies rank seventh among Power 5 teams in total defense, while also boasting top-three season totals in tackles for loss and sacks as a team through the end of the regular season. The linebacker led the SEC and ranked fifth among Power 5 players with 17.0 tackles for loss on the year. Cooper’s team-best 84 total tackles and 8.0 sacks ranked sixth and fourth in the SEC, respectively. The Covington, Louisiana, native tallied at least six takedowns in nine of the team’s 12 regular season games last season, matching his career high with 11 tackles against Alabama and Mississippi State. He had at least 1.0 TFL in seven of the eight SEC games, including 8.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks through the first three league games of the season.
Following his impressive season, Cooper was named to the Walter Camp, AP, AFCA, ESPN, The Athletic and CBS Sports All-America First Team, while he also earned second-team distinction from the FWAA and Sporting News.
“I am so excited for Coop,” Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said. “He’s a young man who came to college with unbelievable speed, twitch and athleticism, and has grown into an NFL linebacker. He’s a great blitzer who can also cover and hold up against the run and played on special teams. Green Bay is getting an outstanding young man.”
Cooper played in 23 total games as a freshman and sophomore, making nine starts. He finished fourth on the team in tackles in each of those seasons, tallying 58 in 2021 and 61 in 2022.
DETROIT – Texas A&M’s McKinnley Jackson was selected with the 97th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft Friday night.
Jackson was a staple on the defensive line over the last two years, serving as a season-long team captain in each of his final two seasons in Aggieland. In 2023 he started all 12 regular season games, finishing the year with 27 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and 3.0 sacks. The Lucedale, Mississippi, native helped the Aggies lead the SEC in rushing defense while also boasting top-three season totals in tackles for loss and sacks as a team through the end of the regular season.
“McKinnley is a powerful man on the inside against the run and can be quite disruptive in the interior,” Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said. “His ability to take on multiple blockers helps the overall defensive scheme.”
Prior to his senior season, Jackson played in 28 games, making 12 starts. He tallied 91 tackles in his career, including 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
DETROIT – Texas A&M’s Layden Robinson and Ainias Smith were taken on the final day of the 2024 NFL Draft. Robinson was selected by the New England Patriots with the 103rd overall pick in the fourth round and Smith was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 152nd overall pick in the fifth round.
Robinson started at right guard in all 11 games he appeared in last season and logged 31 consecutive starts on the line prior to missing the final game of the regular season. The Manvel, Texas, native helped the Aggie rushing attack tally over 200 yards in wins over Auburn (209), Arkansas (204) and Mississippi State (246). He helped protect the quarterback as a member of the offensive line that allowed 2.0 sacks or fewer in eight games. The offense recorded three 300-plus yard passing games with 40-plus passing attempts, while giving up only 1.0 sack as a group in two of the games, at Miami and at Ole Miss.
“Layden is a strong and powerful offensive lineman,” Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko. “Not only can he block, he literally moves players. He is a terrific young man.”
One of the most versatile players in Texas A&M history, Smith totaled 1,204 all-purpose yards, 285 punt return yards and 103 kick return yards to earn All SEC First Team recognition following his final season in Aggieland. His return abilities were on full display in the win over Arkansas when he ran back a punt for 82 yards to the house to extend the fourth quarter Aggie lead before totaling a career high 131 punt return yards and 202 all-purpose yards in the game. His 14.3 yards per punt return average was good for eighth nationally through the end of the regular season, while he also averaged 14.7 yards per kick return.
The do-it-all Aggie also led the receiving corps with 53 catches for 795 yards and two touchdowns last season. Each week Smith showcased himself as a threat in the aerial attack, recording five games with 75-plus receiving yards, including two games with 100-plus yards receiving in the wins over ULM (127) and South Carolina (118). He averaged 66.3 yards receiving per game and 15.0 yards per catch, both good for top-12 in the SEC. The Missouri City, Texas, native totaled 4,008 all-purpose yards in his career, including 2,407 yards receiving yards, 836 punt return yards, 405 yards rushing and 360 kick return yards, making him the only 2,000-plus yard receiver in SEC history to rack up at least 250 career yards as a rusher, punter returner and kick returner.
“Ainias can do it all. He has good hands, quick feet and is tough,” Elko said. “He can play receiver, is excellent after the catch and is a terrific punt returner. He’s a great leader as well.”