Elite 2026 RB Derrek Cooper names top 10 schools

One of the nation’s top running back prospects is narrowing the focus on his recruitment ahead of his senior season.

Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna four-star RB Derrek Cooper has trimmed his list of top schools down to 10. He told On3’s Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday evening that he’s down to Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State and Texas A&M.

Cooper is the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 2 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Florida.

Earlier on Tuesday, Cooper told On3’s Chad Simmons that he has locked in his first pair of official visits, too. He’s been visited by coaching staffs from across the nation this month and is set to see Auburn and Georgia in the coming weeks.

“When I commit, it will be about how I will be used, how the relationships are between my family and the coaches are and the stability of the coaching staff,” Cooper told On3. “The fit into the scheme will be important to me too. I want the chance to get on the field and show my ability as quickly as I can.”

A do-it-all star for Chaminade-Madonna, Cooper had 124 carries for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, per MaxPreps. He also accumulated 46 total tackles, four pass deflections and an interception for the Lions.

Chaminade-Madonna finished with a 15-2 record and claimed a fourth consecutive 1A state title in the Sunshine State. It finished as the No. 1 team in Florida and the No. 13 team in the nation, per the On3 Composite Rankings.

Cooper talks some of his top schools

In a previous interview with On3 at the end of December, Cooper broke down his interest in some of his top programs:

Auburn: “I was at the Auburn when they played Oklahoma and they want me on offense too. Coach (Derrick) Nix is a cool coach and I have been talking to him a lot. He is new, he has energy and I like how he is recruiting me. He watches my film, he breaks things down and that is on. On my visit, I loved the fans, the crowd and the atmosphere. It was wild.”

Georgia: “I have visited Georgia a couple of times. I was there for the Tennessee game and I love everything about Georgia. The coaching staff is awesome and my whole family loves Kirby Smart. My family and I have talked to him a lot. Coach (Josh) Crawford and I talk almost every day and I fit well into their offense as a running back. Georgia was the third school to offer me, so it was really my first big offer.”

Miami: “I have visited Miami the most. It is close to home and I have been there around six or seven times. They like me on both sides of the ball, so it would be cool to do that at Miami. If I got there, it would allow my mom and my family to see me a lot and that would be amazing. The staff has done a great job recruiting me, especially coach Mario Cristobal. The biggest thing about Miami is how they play young guys.”

Ohio State: “I was at Ohio State when they played Purdue and I have been up there twice. Coach Carlos Locklyn is one of the best coaches I have met throughout the process. He has studied my film, he has already taught me some stuff and he really wants me to play running back for him. Ohio State is a great school with a lot of top players.”

Texas A&M: “My last visit this season was to Texas A&M for the Texas game. It was a great visit and it was loud out there. I like the staff a lot. They like me safety first, but they say I can play both ways. Their coaches let guys do that, so that is a big part of why they are up there for me. I am talking to coach Ish (Ishmael Aristide) and coach Trooper Taylor a lot.