As Indiana prepares to play for a national championship, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has emerged as a name casual fans are encountering for the first time. With that rise has come a familiar question tied to his last name, prompting curiosity about whether the Hoosiers’ top target is connected to former NFL star Amari Cooper.
Is Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. Related to Amari Cooper?
Omar Cooper Jr. is not related to former NFL wide receiver Amari Cooper. The shared surname has led to natural speculation. However, there is no family connection between the two, and Indiana’s junior receiver has carved out his own path through college football without any lineage ties to the longtime NFL standout.
Omar’s national recognition has been earned through production and timing. Entering Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game against Miami, Indiana stands as the last undefeated team in the country at 15-0, and he has played a central role in that run. He leads the Hoosiers in both receptions and receiving yards, totaling 64 catches for 866 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also contributing as a runner with 74 yards and a score on the ground.
His impact has been felt most in defining moments. Indiana’s perfect season nearly slipped away in November against Penn State, when Omar hauled in a late touchdown to swing the outcome and keep the Hoosiers unbeaten. That play became a turning point in Indiana’s season, preserving momentum that ultimately carried into the playoffs.
Omar has continued to produce against elite competition. Through two CFP games, he has 6 receptions for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns as Indiana dispatched Alabama and Oregon by comfortable margins. While Indiana’s offense features multiple weapons, he has remained a dependable option in scoring situations.
The junior’s rise has been incremental rather than sudden. He finished the 2023 season with 18 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns, followed by a stronger 2024 campaign with 28 receptions for 594 yards and seven scores. His 2025 season represents a culmination of that growth, aligning with Indiana’s historic breakthrough under center Fernando Mendoza.
While Omar’s name is now tied to one of the biggest stages in college football, the comparison point that sparked curiosity belongs to a different era. Amari, the former Raiders, Cowboys, Browns, and Bills wide receiver, retired earlier this season before the NFL regular season began. Amari decided to attend training camp after rejoining the Raiders, closing the book on a career that included five Pro Bowl selections and more than a decade as a premier NFL receiver.
That timing has made the coincidence of names more noticeable. As Amari stepped away from football, Omar stepped into the national spotlight.
