Jarrod Cooper

Infobox NFLactive
name=Jarrod Cooper


width=200
caption=
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Safety
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|3|31
birthplace=Akron, Ohio
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=215
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Carolina Panthers
college=Kansas State
draftyear=2001
draftround=5
draftpick=143
pastteams=
* Carolina Panthers (2001-2004)
* Oakland Raiders (2004-2007)
status=Active
highlights=
* 4x All-Big 12 (1997-2000)
statweek=5
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=131
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=1.5
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=0
nfl=COO611871

Jarrod Alexander Cooper (born March 31, 1978 in Akron, Ohio) is an American football safety currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State.

Early years

Cooper played football and ran track and field for Pearland High School in Texas. He was an All-state selection in football as a senior and was a four year letterman in track and field, excelling in the long jump, triple jump, and the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

College career

Cooper played college football at Kansas State where he was an All-Big 12 selection all four years. He was elected team captain as a junior and senior. After leaving Kansas State, he ranked 11th in school history in tackles.

Professional career

Carolina Panthers

Cooper was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft and played in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He played with the Panthers until being waived in late October 2004.

Oakland Raiders

Cooper joined the Oakland Raiders on October 29, 2004 after being claimed off waivers.

In 2005, he won the Ed Block courage award chosen by his teammates. He was also a team captain for the 2006 season.

Cooper was released by the Raiders prior to the 2007 season after failing a league mandated drug test. He was re-signed not long after he served his suspension, but was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 17 with a torn ACL.

He was later released on August 25, 2008.

Personal

In 2007 Cooper began volunteering at the Oakland Animal Shelter in Oakland California. He quickly became an integral part of the shelter's team of staff and volunteers, often spending hours walking the dogs, cleaning kennels, and performing various improvement tasks around the shelter. Eventually he donated funds for the construction of outdoor exercise runs for the dogs named "the Coop." He subsequently founded a non-profit dedicated to helping the animals of Oakland.

External links

* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=424 Oakland Raiders bio]