A fatal accident has cut short the life of a talented offensive lineman. Hailing from Thomas County Central High School in Georgia, Deontavis Jamario “Big Coop” Cooper was a seventeen-year-old prodigy.

The crash happened in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 23, 2026, only hours after his high school graduation.

His career saw him help lead his high school to the 2025 Georgia Class 5A State Championship. He finished with a perfect 15-0 record. Cooper also won two state titles during his high school career.

According to the New York Post, tragedy struck shortly before 11 pm on Saturday. The sedan he was riding in was on Thomasville Road near Amber Valley Drive in Leon County.

The vehicle veered into the shoulder and struck a culvert. The impact made the vehicle go airborne and strike a telephone pole. 

This caused the car to roll over, and Cooper was ejected from his vehicle, leading to the passing. His two other co-passengers were in critical condition as of Sunday evening. They are being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare.

His football coach at Thomas County Central, Justin Rogers, was visibly emotional and shared a post on Facebook to pay homage to his student.

"There are no words for the heartbreak we feel today.“Big Coop was one of those rare young men who could light up a room with his smile and make everyone around him feel valued. He loved people and treated others with kindness," said Rogers

Rogers wasn't the only one who paid their respects to Cooper.

Tulane Football Remembers Cooper

Deontavis Cooper had officially signed his National Letter of Intent with Tulane University on December 3, 2025. Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports he got multiple offers. South Alabama, Cincinnati, and UCF all wanted him.

Yet he chose to commit to Tulane. He was expected to join the Green Wave program in 2026. Unfortunately, that won't be the case anymore. Tulane acknowledged him through their post on Twitter.

"We mourn the passing of Deontavis Cooper, who was set to join our program this week. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and all who held him close. May you find comfort and strength during this challenging moment," shared Tulane on their official post.

The Thomas County School District also shared its condolences and extended support to Cooper’s family following the tragic loss. Cooper's untimely passing has really created a void that only time will heal.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote