STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Darius Cooper put Tarleton State's receiving core on notice in 2024. 

With Cooper now showcasing his talents with the Philadelphia Eagles, other wide receivers will step into the spotlight in 2025. 

Returning 844 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns from last season to go with six transfers, the Texans are expected to be deeper at wide receiver than ever before. 

"We have a lot of playmakers out here and a deep receiving core," senior wide receiver Keylan Johnson said. "I believe we will be better this year. We will be able to spread it out more and everybody is going to have a chance to get the ball." 

Despite Cooper's storied career with the Texans closing last year, he was still an active participant in the program. He stuck around Stephenville to meet with recruits while preparing for the NFL Draft. 

Cooper was not picked in the NFL Draft, but landed a free agent contract with the Eagles shortly after. In the Super Bowl champions' first preseason game of 2025, he did what Texan Nation has seen from the All-American since day one: make plays. He finished his first preseason game with six receptions, 82 yards and a touchdown.

While Cooper graduated, his influence is evident in this year's fall camp. The wide receivers emphasize that they need to 'practice like an eagle today' and provide inspiration for the current Texans to raise their game. 

"It is absolutely tremendous for us," wide receivers coach Tate Whitten said. "We have a lot of new guys, but Darius was around in Stephenville during a lot of the recruiting process and would swing by to talk to the recruits. They all have got to talk with him and the guys that have worked with him have seen what it takes to get to that level. Not only that, but to succeed on that level."

Returning to the Texans' receiving core includes junior Cody Jackson, who caught eight touchdown passes with 490 yards, Trevon West and Cydd Ford. Johnson tied a program record for TD's scored in a single game at four and had the fifth most receiving yards in a single game in team history at 219 during his sophomore campaign in 2023. 

A wide receiver that Texan Nation can expect to see more of is senior Peyton Kramer. After performing well in the spring followed by a strong outing in the Purple and White game last April, Kramer was put on scholarship by head coach Todd Whitten. He learned what it takes to be a team player under Cooper, planning to put those tools in place this coming season. 

"I'm super blessed to be in this position with my brothers and following a guy like Darius," Kramer said. "He taught me a lot about being more humble and not being so much of a 'me' player. At the end of the day, it's about getting a win for the team and doing this with my brothers." 

Transfers to watch include Division II standouts Mekhi Gibson and T'iar Young in addition to Marquis Willis, a multi-position player who excelled at quarterback, running back and wide receiver at Coahoma Community College. The Texans also signed former Arkansas State wide receiver Reginald Harden, who shined in one of the program's biggest games at Michigan with two touchdowns, three receptions and 52 yards. 

Even with the plethora of talent in the wide receivers' room, the fundamentals of getting open and catching the football remain critical to this year's group. 

"When our name is called, we try to just go make the plays that we need to make in order to win," Kramer said. "We just want to focus on one play at a time, play 100% every play and not worry about anything else that is going on except for that play call."

Increased depth has led to heavier competition in fall camp. The receivers, however, aren't worried about how much time they will see on the field. Their focus is executing each play when the opportunity presents itself. 

"We make a point of emphasis that every single rep is so precious," Whitten said. "There's a lot more guys, so a lot more competition. Every single opportunity that comes your way, you better make it because the dude right behind you has a chance at doing it. The intensity is up with that and they're taking every single rep like it's their last."