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.
These are the college football programs in consideration for 2026 No. 1 RB Derek Cooper
Cooper is a great pass-catcher out of the backfield and will be sought out by many of the top college football programs.
Rohan Chakravarthi is the site manager at Bucky’s 5th Quarter, contributes to Niners Nation and covers high school recruiting for SBNation.com.
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.
The running back is expected to take junior day visits to Miami, Auburn and Georgia in the coming weeks, which comes after the Hurricanes visited Cooper on a home visit last week. Running backs coach Matt Merritt and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson were in attendance.
What schools are guaranteed to get an official visit for the five-star?
“I for sure want to go to Miami. I for sure want to go to Georgia, too. Ohio State, you know, those schools [are some of the top ones so far],” Cooper shared.
Cooper is one of the more sought-after recruits in the 2026 class, accumulating 26 scholarship offers thus far, with a number of Power 4 schools showing interest in the five-star.
As a junior, Cooper rushed for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns on 7.3 yards per carry for Chaminade-Madonna this past season, while also catching nine passes for 156 yards and another score. His production led Chaminade-Madonna to an FHSAA 1A State Championship title this year, where he rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Looking ahead to the spring, the five-star’s recruitment is still wide open, but a couple of favorites are starting to emerge for the best running back in the country.
