five-star most wanted QB recruit from Chaminade-Madonna High School Derek Cooper committed to Alabama Football over Georgia, Florida State, Ohio State, Auburn and more….

five-star most wanted QB recruit from Chaminade-Madonna High School Derek Cooper committed to Alabama Football over Georgia, Ohio State and more….

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-star recruit from Chaminade-Madonna High School, Cooper stands at 6’1” and weighs 200 pounds.

Known for his athleticism, power running, and pass-catching abilities, he has garnered attention from multiple top programs, including Alabama.

Cooper had a brief commitment to Georgia in June 2024 but has since reopened his recruitment and plans to visit several campuses in the coming months.  

When it comes to an all-around running back, there aren’t many better players than 2026 five-star Derek Cooper, seen as the top back in the country according to Rivals.

Standing 6’1”, 200 pounds, Cooper is an elite two-way athlete, but projects better at running back at the next level, where almost every top school in the country is targeting the five-star.

A top-10 recruit in the 2026 class, the five-star participated in the Under Armour All-America Game earlier this month, where he was a clear standout, showcasing elite-level athleticism to go with a great natural feel for the position.

Cooper is a great pass-catcher out of the backfield and runs with great strength and authority that pairs well with the running back’s vision, both in open space and between the tackles.

How did the five-star evaluate his performance throughout the week?

“I feel blessed. I feel very, very blessed being amongst the best of the best,” Cooper said after the game. “It was just amazing coming out here, just going against great talent all over that’s going to college.

“I proved myself that all right. My ability to catch the ball at the backfield and run through a great defense [was on display]. I just dominated a little bit out there, you know, catching the ball over people, running the ball over people.”

Thus far, Georgia, Miami, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and Ohio State have been the most consistent schools reaching out and recruiting the five-star, looking to get him back on campus this spring. Cooper plans to take a lot of visits over the next few months as he narrows down his list of schools ahead of official visits.

Georgia once held a commitment from Cooper for a brief period back in June before a quick de-commitment, but are still firmly in the mix for the five-star.