Cooper DeJean Opens up on Viral Dunk With Saquon Barkley
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Not long after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Cooper DeJean in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, he became a favorite among the fan base. Before he begins his second year in the pros, the young defensive back opened up on one of his viral moments from the offseason.
Aside from his talents on the football field, DeJean is an all-around gifted athlete. Like many other pros, he thrived across numerous sports. When he wasn't taking care of business on the gridiron, DeJean also turned heads with his basketball skills.
Throughout his rookie campaign, fans constantly dug up old basketball clips from when DeJean was in high school. Before mandatory minicamp got underway, he showed he's still capable of delivering eye-popping moments.
Three weeks ago, the Eagles paid a visit to the University of Pennsylvania. While there, the group found themselves on the campus' basketball court. Saquon Barkley and DeJean took this moment as an opportunity to have some fun. The star running proceeded to throw a dazzling alley-oop that DeJean dunked home with ease.
During a recent episode of his "Exciting Mics" podcast, DeJean touched on this viral moment with teammate Reed Blankenship. He was slightly upset that this was the only clip caught on camera, as he felt he had better dunks that day.
Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."Saquon throwing me a lob, throwing it down," DeJean said. "I feel like I had a lot better dunks then this one throughout the day but they weren't on camera. Then we needed to leave."
Coop can HOOP 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/dNVCL2LzuH — Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) June 9, 2025
DeJean's athleticism helped him provide an immediate impact for the Eagles both defensively and as a kick returner at times. He shined in his first year in the pros, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. DeJean also managed to deliver a memorable moment in the postseason, returning an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Heading into his sophomore campaign with the Eagles, DeJean's athleticism could be further utilized in an expanded role. As minicamp continues, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he might use the standout defensive back at safety in some scenarios.
"We'd like to keep him at nickel, and then in our base package we'll find a spot for him, either at corner or safety," Fangio said. "A lot of it will end up depending on how the other guys develop and where we most need him."
DeJean has some experience playing safety from his time in college, which could make such a transition easy for him. Given his past experience, the Eagles might utilize his talents to fill the void left by C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Eagles RB AJ Dillon joins the fan club of a rising WNBA star
A rising WNBA star's grit has earned the unexpected support of Eagles RB AJ Dillon. Sometimes, nothing needs to be done other than offering a round of applause. The WNBA must be given credit for the job it has done and for growing its game. Some of the new stars have much to do with that, as they have helped introduce professional women's basketball to a larger audience. Who knows? We may even see a few more jerseys at Philadelphia Eagles games. Speaking of jerseys, one of the new Birds made sure to grab his, and he had no issue with letting everyone know about it. A.J. Dillon grabs his Sophie Cunningham jersey. If you haven't been paying attention to the sports world these past few months, here's what you missed recently. The Eagles, already being home to the great Saquon Barkley, added a sledgehammer in A.J. Dillon. So, now, they have 'Saquads' and 'Quadzilla' on their roster. Meanwhile, in 'The W, ' the Indiana Fever continues to catch fire and grab headlines. Their recent tussle with the Connecticut Sun brought with it multiple heated altercations, including some pushing and shoving that sent shockwaves through social media following a hard foul by Sophie Cunningham on Jacy Sheldon. Since embracing the 'enforcer' role, Cunningham added new fans and more social media followers. She recently saw an uptick in TikTok support. A.J. Dillon bought a jersey and made sure everyone knew about it. So far, there has been no word as to whether or not Cunningham returned the favor by buying A.J.'s Eagles jersey. Check back for updates. Like Dillon, Cunningham is enjoying her first season on a new roster in a new city. This is her first season teaming with Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, DeWanna Barber, and Indiana's loaded roster. She was traded to the Fever this past January after spending her first six WNBA seasons with the Phoenix Mercury. She also spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the WNBL's Melbourne Boomers.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Is Philly water ice the same as Italian ice? No, and here's why
Philly-style water ice makes a great 7th inning treat – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith This article, originally published in June 2019, was updated in June 2025. Fans of the podcast "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce" recently discovered another 'uniquely Philly' passion of Kelce's: water ice. 'WTF is water ice? Are we talking about snow cones?' asked YouTube viewer @treysullivan9248. Kelce, like any true Philadelphian, aggressively but understandably, clarified: 'No, Trey! We are not talking about snow cones!' Advertisement Kelce — media personality, podcast host, and wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce — went on to say that water ice is a Philadelphia summer staple that's basically frozen sugar water. "You can't go wrong with it,' she said. What is Philly-style water ice? Philly kids love their Philadelphia water ice – Photo courtesy of Catherine Smith Most similar to a fresh fruit slushie, water ice has been Philadelphia's favorite summer treat for generations. Each spring, as the weather starts to warm up and hint at summer, we celebrate with our favorite seasonal treat. Moms line up with their kids at their favorite water ice stands. Excited children study the freezer full of colorful tubs. One asks, "Can I have strawberry on the bottom and mango on top?' The teenager behind the counter happily obliges, filling the bottom half of the plastic cup with an icy strawberry mixture and topping it off with another pale-yellow scoop. Advertisement While Philadelphians have been enjoying water ice for generations, the consumption of ice and fruit combinations goes back a couple of thousand years to ancient Sicily (and can be traced even further back to Asia, Persia, and Mesopotamia). To beat the summer heat, according to food historian Liz Williams, ancient Sicilians devised creative means to both refresh and delight. Long before the invention of coolers and refrigeration, the people of Sicily were ingeniously experimenting with ice. Runners were sent up the almost 11,000-foot Mount Etna, Europe's highest active volcano, to collect snow and ice that could be combined with lemons, limes, and other fresh fruits to create a cool and refreshing summer treat. Over the years, Sicilians mastered a method of storing the ice in caverns beneath the volcano before transporting it to other parts of Italy. As they did so, the practice of mixing ice and fruit, known as granita, spread throughout Italy. Different regions developed their own versions of the fruit and ice combination, as well as sorbets and gelato. Fast forward some 2,000 years to the early 1900s, at the peak of Italian immigration to the United States. Approximately 2 million Italians immigrated here at that time, the majority coming from Southern Italy with hopes of escaping the intense poverty back home. Advertisement Men and women looked for creative ways — like peddling granita — to make money while establishing themselves and seeking employment. Just as the different regions of Italy developed different versions of granita over the years, American cities with high concentrations of Italians, especially Sicilians, began developing their versions. How do you serve Philadelphia water ice? Traditional water ice (pronounced "wooder ice" with the local accent) is made with three simple ingredients: fresh fruit, sugar and water. While it was once made by hand, today the ingredients are combined in a metal, cylindrical machine. A mixer inside the metal barrel rotates and scrapes the edges as the mixture begins to freeze and stick to the walls. After reaching the correct consistency, the water ice is transferred into tubs and served up fresh. Where is Philadelphia water ice made? Enjoy a refreshing treat at John's Water Ice – Photo courtesy of Kae Lani Palmisano As water ice has grown in popularity, new stands and mass-produced water ice franchises have popped up. Kids especially love Rita's Water Ice, a chain now available in over 30 states. Two of Philadelphia's most beloved water ice stands are John's Water Ice and Pop's Homemade Water Ice. John Cardullo, founder of John's Water Ice, owned a diner in the heart of South Philly's Italian Market neighborhood and often served water ice as a dessert. In 1945, as the water ice grew in popularity, he decided to close the diner, turn it into office space for his heating repair company, and open a simple water ice stand next door. Advertisement The two seasonal businesses provided Cardullo with steady income in both winter and summer. John's Water Ice still operates out of this original location on Christian Street, with a second location in Huntingdon Valley. Filippo Italiano of Pop's Homemade Water Ice sold his homemade Italian water ice from a cart he pushed around the neighborhood. As word of his refreshing treat spread, children and families began lining up outside his garage waiting for him to open. Since he lived across the street from an urban park, Italiano realized he was well-known enough to quit lugging his heavy cart around in the heat and let people come to him instead. In 1932, he converted his garage into a storefront. Decades later, his grandchildren still serve water ice out of this same location. Advertisement If you're visiting Philadelphia, head over to one of the mom-and-pop stands where you know you'll be met with the tastiest and most authentic Philadelphia water ice experience. Just be prepared, as many are cash only. John's is easily walkable from the Liberty Bell and Center City, while Pop's is located right off the Broad Street Line subway, a perfect place to stop before or after a Phillies game.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Peyton Manning Goes Viral After Revealing Jalen Hurts Story
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jalen Hurts has never been one to shy away from admitting he's aware of the narratives that include his name. It's unclear how much the opinions of analysts, hosts, and writers hold weight with the veteran quarterback, but NFL legend Peyton Manning recently revealed that Hurts felt a type of way when he was snubbed from a top-five list put together by the NFL Hall of Famer. During his segment at Fanatics Fest, Manning made it clear he wouldn't reveal his top five quarterbacks currently, due to Hurts' reaction to the last time he did. "I named five guys, and Jalen Hurts texted me like 20 minutes later, 'I didn't make your list?' Now, Jalen's mad at me. So, no list today," Manning said to a room full of laughter. "I'm a quarterback fan. I know how hard it is to play. So, I pull hard for quarterbacks. No list this year." Peyton Manning refused to give his Top 5 QB list after Jalen Hurts texted him last year. 👏🤣 — New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) June 20, 2025 While that could mean Manning might not view Hurts as a top-five quarterback in the NFL once again, the veteran could also just be looking to save himself from another angry listener. The former scenario wouldn't be anything new to Hurts, who continues to battle negative narratives even after winning the game at the highest level back in February. Statistically, Hurts had a down year during the 2024 NFL season. He threw for just 2,903 yards, marking the first time he had under 3,000 yards since his rookie season in 2020. He also tossed fewer than 20 touchdowns for the first time in two seasons. While Hurts was far from perfect, the Eagles also relied heavily on their run game after acquiring the MVP-caliber running back, Saquon Barkley. It turned out to be the right move throughout the year, as Barkley put together an MVP-worthy season and was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 9, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by) When it came to playoff time, Hurts was challenged to put his arm to the test, and he delivered better than ever. In four playoff games, including the Super Bowl, Hurts completed 71 percent of his passes for a playoff career-high 726 yards. He threw for five touchdowns and just one interception. Hurts also rushed for 194 yards and scored five times on the ground. The outside opinions about Hurts' game might just turn out to be bulletin board material the quarterback can stash and put away as something he can reference back to when he needs added motivation during the regular season. No need to bring it up to anybody. When it comes to Manning, maybe that opinion holds a little more weight. After all, Manning is one of the most notable quarterbacks to get under center. The former first-overall pick in 1998 won the NFL MVP award five times. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion and has a Super Bowl MVP victory on his resume, like Hurts. Whether Manning believes Hurts is a top QB this time around or not, the Eagles' veteran can still enter the 2025 NFL season with plenty of confidence as he's got a title to defend. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
