Germany: Frankfurt Universe sign former Jacksonville Jaguar Desmond Cooper

AFI | American Football | 01/31/2020

The Frankfurt Universe, German Football League semifinalists in 2019, have signed former Jacksonville Jaguar safety Desmond Cooper for the 2020 season.

The 6’2″, 216 lb 27-year-old Cooper, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, who played at both Wake Forest and UNC Charlotte, was outstanding for the Søllerød Gold Diggers in 2017 and 2019, helping them reach the Danish final in 2017. In 2018, he was also a key figure in Poland’s Wroclaw Panthers reaching the championship final.

He attended the Jacksonville Jaguars training camp and was the first-ever graduate of UNC Charlotte to sign with an NFL team.

The Universe reached the German Football League semifinals in 2019 and the German Bowl in 2018.

Cooper is entering his first season in the GFL, generally regarded as the top league in Europe.

“This is one of the top organizations in Europe so it was hard to pass up on their offer. And Coach ‘K’ [HC Thomas Kösling] was a big reason for me choosing Frankfurt. He and I hit it off right from the start.”

After three years of playing in Europe, he has seen excellent growth and development in the game.

“Being so involved in helping the youth here in Europe, I have seen major growth in the game. Obviously, there is still a long way to go but with all the CFL combines taking place and more and more kids going to college in the United States, it is continuing to grow.”

Cooper admits it’s tough to pick just one highlight of his career so far in Europe but he does think earning Defensive MVP honors for the Gold Diggers in 2019 was pretty special.

“I don’t know if I’ve had the best moments in my career so far. But if I had to pick one thing I would say it was the Defensive MVP award I received last year with the Søllerød Gold Diggers.”