Omar Cooper Jr. on a crazy, epic catch

ByNBAUSA


Indiana football witnessed the birth of Bloomington’s new folk hero with 36 seconds left. Omar Cooper Jr. snuck up behind the Penn State secondaryand made one of the craziest iconic catches of the season.

Cooper Jr., a native of Indianapolis, set the college football world on fire with this odd finger snap.

He is more than likely the new toast of the IU campus, even amid Fernando Mendoza’s dominance. Cooper Jr. finished the afternoon catching six passes for 32 yards — but one touchdown lifted IU to victory.

But how did Cooper Jr. pull off the miraculous catch when his fingertip was IU’s last hope for victory?

Omar Cooper Jr. explains Indiana’s miracle pass catch against Penn State

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is lifted into the air after throwing a touchdown to wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium.
Matthew O’Haren-imagn Images

Most fans and analysts were amazed at Cooper Jr.’s body control and foot awareness. A catch like this makes many wonder how VR can pull it off.

Still, Cooper Jr. said via Michael Niziolek of the Herald Times what was his way of thinking during that main sequence.

“I knew where I was on the court. When I went for the ball, I was trying to get as far inside as I could,” Cooper Jr. said. “I made sure I was on board with it. I could do it.”

Cooper Jr. admitted the touchdown was “a really close call.”

“I felt like it wasn’t enough to turn it around,” Cooper Jr. said. “It was a blessing to be able to make that play.

He salvages the Hoosiers’ undefeated streak in the process in the second season below Curt Cignetti. The 21-year-old wide receiver is enjoying new career highs: 46 receptions, 669 yards and eight touchdowns.

While Cignetti built his two IU rosters predominantly College football transfer portal talent, Cooper Jr. is the opposite. The 6-foot-6 VR arrived in Bloomington before the Cignetti era — he signed with the Class of 2022 when Tom Allen led the Hoosiers.

The Allen recruit remained loyal to IU and allowed Cignetti to guide him. Now the local standout has made a catch that will be discussed for years to come — from Indiana fans to those heartbroken PSU fans who watched the play unfold.





2025-11-09 05:42:00

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