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Don Hansen's Football Gazette Blog of information, comments, notes, and tidebits on Small College Football. NCAA 1-AA & Mid Major, Division II & Mid Major, Division III, NAIA, and NCCAA

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Green Bay Packers Sign North Dakota State Tight End AJ Cooper to Free Agent Contract

Courtesy: Bob Nelson, North Dakota State
The Green Bay Packers signed NDSU tight end AJ Cooper to a free agent contract.
North Dakota State tight end AJ Cooper has signed a two-year free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. Cooper said he will report to the Green Bay rookie/free agent minicamp to begin workouts on Thursday.

Cooper, a 6-1, 239-pound senior from Phoenix, Ariz., caught 24 passes for 473 yards (19.7 ypr) and four TDs. He was honorable mention on the 2005 Football Gazette I-AA All-America team. He caught three passes for 90 yards including touchdown catches of 34 and 38-yards in the 35-7 win at Northwestern State on Sept. 10.

The second leading receiver on the 2005 NDSU football team, Cooper was named to the All-Great West Football Conference first team by vote of coaches and media. He was named to the Football Gazette All-Northwest Region first team.

As a junior, Cooper played in all 11 games and caught 23 passes for 285 yards (12.4 ypr) and three touchdowns.

Three former NDSU players are currently on NFL Europe rosters. Offensive guard Isaac Snell (New York Jets) is playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy, center Rob Hunt (Denver Broncos) is with the Rhein Fire and offensive tackle Jared Peck (Carolina Panthers) is playing for the Cologne Centurions. Snell is starting at left guard for the Galaxy, Hunt is the backup at center for the Fire, and Peck is listed as the starter at right tackle for the Centurions.

Former Bison wideout Allen Burrell reports to training camp in mid-May with Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

North Dakota State completed the 2005 season with a 7-4 record under the direction of head coach Craig Bohl, and tied for third place in the Great West Football Conference with a 3-2 record. The Bison were ranked in the I-AA Top 25 for 10 out of 12 weeks during the season.

The Bison open the 2006 season against Concordia University-St. Paul at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 31.

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