IDA GROVE, Iowa — People around the Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove School district knew they had a talented athlete in Cooper DeJean. He was head and shoulders taller than all the other kids in junior high.

Even on the current Faclons football team, DeJean is a legend.

“We didn’t exactly have a great stretch of football teams but once Cooper was a junior and took over as a quarterback he kinda obviously lead us to back to back state championships And kind of brought the fire for our football teams, said Jack Gilbert, a member of the current Falcons football team. “I feel like it ever since then we’ve all been driven as a football team and has a program to try to reach that level again.”

Cooper DeJean’s success on the big stage for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Philadelphia Eagles is still motivating players in his hometown.

“He’s got incredible drive I mean his work ethic is pretty crazy, obviously grown up as a kid in small town,” said Gilbert. “To make it to the NFL,I mean that’s pretty impressive especially coming out of our community.”

His high school football coach said DeJean’s speed and drive are what led to his success.

“To watch him I don’t know that I’d say that he looks fast, but he is faster than you would ever think he would be,” said  Larry Allen, OABCIG Head Football Coach. “He had a 98 yard run for us as a senior, got down the sideline and outran everyone, he’s just an overall athlete in every aspect.”

DeJean’s success as an athlete on college and pro teams has caused some in his hometown to switch loyalties.

“I grew up in Southwest Iowa, and so naturally, I became a Chiefs fan and through thick and thin, and over the years and I think this might be the first time I’ve ever had to root against the Chiefs,” said Allen.

“We have not been Hawkeye fan always,” said Travis Chizek, OABCIG High School Principal. “We are Cyclone fans, but for those three years that Cooper was at Iowa, we had all the Iowa games DVR because from what we got to see in high school you just never know what he’s going to do.”