Ben Cooper brings special-teams juice and developing linebacker upside at Illinois State
Ben Cooper is a redshirt sophomore linebacker for Illinois State in 2026, listed at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, and he’s already getting noticed for his kickoff-coverage impact and high-motor play style.[1][15] The loudest public note on him is not a giant tackle total yet, but that he has “opened plenty of eyes” on special teams and earned attention from opponents, which usually signals a player coaches trust to run, hit, and do the dirty work.[5] He was a decorated Maine West senior with all-state honors and a strong two-way background, so the fit looks better for teams wanting toughness, effort, and special-teams value than instant star power.[1][12]
