Cooper Kupp: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp catches a pass at the NFL Combine (Getty)

Cooper Kupp, a wideout who broke 15 FCS receiving records and is a 4-time All-American at Eastern Washington, is among the players likely to be selected during the second round of the NFL draft. Kupp’s jaw-dropping statistics and skill-set earned him a cult-following along the West Coast, which continues to expand as his legend grows.

If he’s selected and, as expected, goes on to play in the league, he’d follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, both of whom played in the league. That would make the Kupp’s just the fifth family with three generations of players in the NFL.

Here’s what you need to know about him:

1. Kupp Is the Most Productive Receiver in FCS History

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Technically, Kupp is the most productive receiver in the history of college football, but since he played in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), which is made up of smaller schools than the FBS(Football Bowl Subdivision), there is some debate as to whether his statistics could be inflated due to playing for a FCS team. Kupp played his entire collegiate career at Eastern Washington University. Eastern Washington University is in the Big Sky Conference.

Whatever your position is on the FCS/FBS debate, there is no denying that Kupp is the most-productive receiver in FCS history.  Kupp’s 428 receptions, 6,464 yards and 73 touchdowns are all FCS all-time records.

Watch highlights from his career in the video above.

2. Kupp’s Father & Grandfather Both Played in the NFL

According to NFL.com, Cooper’s dad, Craig Kupp, was a fifth-round pick by the Giants in 1990. Craig played for the Dallas Cowboys and Phoenix Cardinals in 1991.

Cooper’s grandfather, Jake Kupp, was a New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame offensive lineman from 1964-75. He was selected in the ninth round of the 1964 NFL Draft and made the NFL All-Rookie team that year. He spent some time with the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons before returning to the Saints and making the Pro-Bowl in 1969. In addition to being inducted to the Saints Hall of Fame, he was also named to the Saints All-40th Anniversary team.

The Kupps will become the fifth family with three generations in the NFL, following the Higgins-Suhey, Pyne, Matthews and Chickillo families, according to ESPN.com.

Cooper’s mother, Karin, a personal trainer, played soccer at Pacific Lutheran University, where she and Craig are in the school’s athletic hall of fame, according to FoxSports.

3. Kupp Had One of His Biggest Games Against Oregon

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In 2015, Kupp came up big against the Oregon Ducks, a FBS team ranked #7 in the nation at the time. In Kupp’s first game of his junior year and biggest of his career, he caught 15 passes for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns. His performance was good enough for Oregon defensive backs coach John Neal to tab him as a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft, according to FoxSports.

Watch Kupp’s highlights from the Oregon game above.

4. Kupp Contributed a ‘Draft Diary’ to FoxSports

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp vs. Oregon Ducks (Getty)

Kupp wrote a seven-part Draft Diary for FoxSports.com detailing his experiences preparing for the 2017 NFL Draft.

The first diary details Kupp’s time preparing for and playing in the Senior Bowl. In Chapters 2-4 of the diary, Kupp talks about his training for, participation and reflection of the NFL Combine. In Chapter 5 he talks about continuing his workouts in order to improve on his time he posted at the NFL combine. The series ends with Kupp reflecting on what it means to him to have finally reached draft day and what it feels like to finally realize his dreams.

5. Kupp Is a 4-Time All-American and Won Many Awards

Cooper Kupp #10 breaks a tackle vs. Washington State. (Getty)

Kupp was voted All-American in each of his four years at Eastern Washington University. According to ESPN.com, he is the only player to win both the Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the year) and Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year). He is the first wide receiver and just the fourth player overall in the 54-year history of the Big Sky Conference to earn first team All-Big Sky honors in all four seasons, according to goeags.com.

He was named 2015 and 2016 FCS ADA National Offensive Player of the Year. Kupp was also named 2015 Stats National Offensive Player of the Year.

Kupp was a three-time Academic All-America selection and got his degree in economics with a 3.63 GPA. Cooper married Anna Croskrey in June of 2015.

Matthew Mussa is a contributor to Heavy. He has previously written for Media Milwaukee and Urban Milwaukee. He is interested in breaking news, sports, music and entertainment. He can be reached at matthew.mussa@heavy.com
April 28, 2017 8:42 pm