Curt Cignetti is losing more than just his star quarterback after their National Championship season as leading receiver Omar Cooper Jr is following Fernando Mendoza to the NFL. The redshirt junior declared for the 2026 NFL Draft on Monday after an incredible season with the Hoosiers. He would have had one more year of eligibility had he stayed in Bloomington.
In a season where top wide receiver Elijah Sarratt dealt with an injury that kept him out for a few games, Cooper stepped up big time, even dealing with some problems himself. Cooper's biggest moment of the season by far came against Penn State when he scored the game-winning touchdown to keep Indiana undefeated.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is on the list of five players from the national title game who have submitted written notice to the NFL that they are declaring for the NFL Draft, per ESPN sources. Cooper led Indiana in receiving yards this season with 937 yards. pic.twitter.com/NKcdo1goCP
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 26, 2026
Cooper's catch went viral as he was just barely able to get his foot down in bounds on a third-down play while getting pushed out of bounds. In a game where the Hoosiers struggled more than usual, Cooper stepped up.
In the College Football Playoff, Cooper scored touchdowns against both Alabama and Oregon to help boost Indiana's dominant wins, and he was a key piece in the win over Miami in the National Championship. Now he will take his talents to the next level, where he could be a useful pass catcher for any team.
Who will step up next for Indiana in the wide receiver room in 2026?
While losing Cooper is a bit of a gut punch for Cignetti and the Hoosiers, there are still many wide receivers for Indiana to be excited about in that room. Indiana still has Charlie Becker, who really turned it on in the second half of the season for the Hoosiers.
Becker ended up being the go-to guy for Mendoza, especially on the big plays late in the game as a sure-handed guy. When both Cooper and Sarratt were dealing with injuries, Becker stepped up in many ways, and he certainly was the difference in the National Championship game with two major catches on Indiana's game-winning drive.
Along with Becker, Cignetti also hit the transfer portal and went and got elite pass catcher Nick Marsh out of Michigan State, who was considered was one of the top receivers in the portal. After two seasons with the Spartans, Marsh decided to test the waters of the Transfer Portal, hoping for a better quarterback situation.
Marsh will now be catching passes from fellow Transfer Portal product Josh Hoover from TCU. The combination of Becker and Marsh will be a tough one for defenses to cover next season, and it could help lead Indiana to another National Championship win.