Updated March 26, 2026, 10:33 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro cornerback and former Iowa standout Cooper DeJean was in attendance at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, sitting courtside as the Hawkeyes secured a thrilling late victory over Nebraska in the 2026 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. The Eagles traded up 10 spots in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and selected DeJean out of Iowa.
DeJean became a breakout star for the Hawkeyes during the 2022 season, with five interceptions, eight pass breakups, and three tackles for loss. He followed that with two INTs, five pass breakups, and two tackles for loss this past season.
DeJean is the first Iowa player the Eagles have ever selected in the second round. On Thursday, the talented cornerback watched Alvaro Folgueiras convert a critical three-point play when Nebraska only had four defenders on the floor, and ninth-seeded Iowa continued its NCAA Tournament run under first-year coach Ben McCollum, beating Nebraska 77-71 in a South Region semifinal on Thursday night.
Iowa will play against either Illinois or Houston on Saturday for a chance to advance to the Final Four. McCollum, who won four Division II national titles at Northwest Missouri State, has now led Iowa to its fifth Elite Eight appearance and its first since 1987.
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