Anez Cooper brings championship grit to the New York Jets, bolstering the offensive line after a stellar Miami Hurricanes career. He aims to reverse fortunes.
The Miami Hurricanes have made it a top priority to dominate matchups in the trenches. The philosophy resulted in a National Championship appearance this past season. The offensive line unit was among the best in the nation, which featured right guard Anez Cooper. He spent four seasons with the program, primarily as a starter from sophomore to senior year. All-American teammate Francis Mauigoa, who was taken by the New York Giants with the No. 10 pick, led by example, but Cooper led with passion and a strong voice.
The 22-year-old played a strong role in the Hurricanes’ rebuild, going from 5-7 to 13-3, and reaching the biggest stage in college football.
Cooper will have an opportunity to play across town from Mauigoa after getting drafted from the New York Jets with the 118th pick. The Pleasant Grove, Alabama, native joins an organization looking to end a 15-year playoff drought. He will have an opportunity to carve out a rotation role, potentially a starter.
This past collegiate season, Cooper recorded 1,022 offensive snaps, only giving up 12 total pressures, two hits, and one sack, appearing in 16 games, all starts. He listed at 6-5 7/8, 334 pounds, with 34-inch arms and 10-inch hands. Cooper played alongside a unit that only allowed 20 sacks, ranking 16th-best in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Jets are coming off a 3-14 season under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn. The offensive line allowed 60 sacks, which tied for the fourth-highest in the league. Justin Fields was the team’s starting quarterback for nine games, then got traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Despite a ton of organizational flaws, the Jets' run game finished tied for tenth in total rushing yards, 2,096. Four-year veteran Breece Hall led the charge by rushing 243 times for 1,065 yards, scoring four touchdowns, appearing in 16 games, all starts.
Cooper earned All-ACC Honorable Mentions as a sophomore and junior, then was named Second Team All-ACC as a senior. He understands what it means to join a rebuilding program and see the light at the end of the tunnel. After delivering the Hurricanes to a National Championship game for the first time in over two decades, the newest member of the Jets looks to be a factor in helping the franchise be competitive again.
The selection marked the first time the Hurricanes had three offensive linemen drafted in the same class since 2002. Another milestone was reached for the Coral Gables, Florida program.
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