The parade of players leaving eligibility on the table continues unabated, with Washington State the latest to take an early hit in the personnel department.
Xavier Cooper confirmed to the Tacoma News Tribune Friday that he has decided to bypass his senior season and make himself available for the upcoming NFL draft. The News Tribune writes that the defensive lineman “said he will finish work on his degree in criminal justice by taking internet courses this semester.”
Cooper is set to leave for San Diego in short order to begin training for the combine and workouts for various NFL teams.
“It was a long and hard decision,” Cooper told the paper. “Playing in the National Football League has always been a dream of mine. I feel I’m mentally and physically ready.”
In 2014, Cooper led the Cougars with five quarterback sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. The past three seasons, Cooper started 34 of the 36 games in which he played.