Jalen Cooper, SMU WR: the 2026 season story
Jalen Cooper is a sophomore wide receiver for SMU (ACC). He ranks 120th of 988 wide receivers in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every wide receiver on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked wide receiver, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Jalen Cooper's strongest measure is yards per target at 11.3, 41st of 485 (the average is 8.2). His weakest is target share at 15%, 272nd of 485 (the average is 17%).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His receiving yards per game, 51, ranks 136th among 485 ranked wide receivers.
Against every wide receiver
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked wide receivers he sits, on average, in the 58th percentile for volume, 89th for efficiency and 69th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Jalen Cooper's best came in week 4 against Missouri State and his quietest in week 3 at Louisville.
When it matters
Why it matters. Third downs, the red zone and games against good teams are where drives and seasons are decided.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every wide receiver on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Jalen Cooper is 101st of 485 FBS wide receivers and 15th of 57 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Kayden Dixon-Wyatt of USC, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. This is his best season by the Player Index so far, out of 2 we have.
Wide receivers like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Yannick Smith of SMU.
