When Winning Isn't Enough: The KJ Cooper Paradox
You build it. They come. Then they leave.
That's the harsh reality Texas Southern University is facing right now. After quarterback KJ Cooper helped engineer the Tigers' first winning season in over two decades, he's entered the NCAA transfer portal. Let that sink in. The architect of TSU's offensive resurgence, the signal-caller who helped snap a 9-game losing streak to Prairie View A&M and led the Tigers to a 5-6 overall record in 2024 under first-year head coach Cris Dishman, is walking away from the program he helped resurrect.
This isn't just about one player. This is about the seismic shift happening across HBCU football in 2025, where the NIL era and transfer portal have created a revolving door that's spinning faster than a blitz package on third-and-long.
The Numbers Don't Lie: Cooper's Impact
KJ Cooper wasn't just a quarterback - he was a lifeline. The 6'5", 215-pound redshirt junior from El Paso overcame a season-ending leg injury in the 2024 opener to return in 2025 with a vengeance. His dual-threat ability brought energy to an offense that had been stuck in neutral for years. In a crucial comeback victory over Southern University, Cooper threw three touchdowns in a 35-30 win, showcasing the kind of clutch performance that defines winning programs.
Texas Southern's 2024 campaign - a 5-6 overall record and 4-4 in SWAC play - might not scream dynasty, but context is everything. This was a program that had been mired in futility, struggling to find consistent success in one of college football's most competitive FCS conferences. Cooper's leadership helped stabilize an offense that averaged 25.82 points per game in 2025, a marked improvement from previous seasons.
But stats only tell part of the story. Cooper brought intangibles: poise under pressure, scrambling ability when plays broke down, and the kind of swagger that makes teammates believe. He was the kind of player you build around, the foundation for sustained success.
So why is he leaving?
The NIL Era's Brutal Truth
Welcome to the new normal, where loyalty takes a backseat to opportunity and dollar signs dictate decisions more than school pride. SWAC coaches are bracing for an exodus of top players hitting the transfer portal for FBS programs offering better NIL deals and national exposure. The numbers are staggering - programs like Tennessee State saw 14 transfers leave for FBS schools and 11 more depart for other FCS programs in a single offseason.
HBCUs are caught in a perfect storm. They develop talent, provide platforms for players to shine, and create family atmospheres that bigger programs can't replicate. But when Power 5 schools come calling with NIL packages that dwarf what HBCUs can offer, the calculus changes fast. It's not greed - it's survival. These young men have limited windows to capitalize on their talents, and the transfer portal has become their free agency.
For Cooper, the decision likely came down to maximizing his opportunities. After proving he could lead a historic turnaround at TSU, his stock has never been higher. FBS programs looking for experienced quarterbacks with winning pedigrees will be lining up. The portal is his gateway to bigger stages, better NIL compensation, and potentially a shot at the NFL.
What This Means for Texas Southern
Losing Cooper stings, but it's also a validation. TSU's program under Dishman is clearly doing something right if it's producing talent that Power 5 programs want to poach. The challenge now is sustainability. How do you build a winning culture when your best players become targets the moment they succeed?
The Tigers will need to hit the portal themselves, searching for a quarterback who can maintain the momentum Cooper helped create. The good news? The transfer portal cuts both ways. While HBCUs lose players, they also gain them. Talented transfers with NFL potential are landing at HBCU programs, bringing fresh energy and high-level experience.
Texas Southern's recruiting pitch just got more complicated, but also more compelling. They can point to Cooper's development as proof that TSU is a launching pad for bigger opportunities. That's attractive to ambitious players who want to play immediately and showcase their skills.
The Bigger Picture: HBCU Football's Identity Crisis
Cooper's departure is a microcosm of the volatility plaguing HBCU rosters across the country. The NCAA's elimination of the spring transfer portal window for football in 2025 hasn't slowed the exodus - it's just condensed the chaos into tighter timeframes. Programs are scrambling to balance roster retention with strategic recruiting, all while navigating NIL landscapes that favor wealthier institutions.
SWAC and MEAC schools need to innovate. Better NIL revenue-sharing models, enhanced facilities, and stronger partnerships with corporate sponsors are essential to compete. But there's also an intangible that HBCUs can't lose: their soul. The culture, the legacy, the community - these are competitive advantages that can't be replicated at predominantly white institutions.
Players like Cooper will continue to leave, chasing bigger dreams and better compensation. That's the reality. But if Texas Southern can continue developing talent, winning games, and creating an environment where players thrive, the next KJ Cooper is already on campus - or in the portal, looking for a home.
The Final Whistle
KJ Cooper's transfer portal entry is bittersweet. It's a reminder that winning isn't always enough in 2025's college football landscape. But it's also proof that Texas Southern is headed in the right direction. Programs that develop NFL-caliber talent will always face roster turnover. The key is building systems that survive individual departures.
For Tigers fans, this hurts. Cooper was supposed to be the foundation, the franchise quarterback who'd lead TSU to multiple winning seasons and SWAC championships. Instead, he's a symbol of the transfer portal era's volatility - brilliant, impactful, and fleeting.
But here's the thing about turnarounds: they don't end when one player leaves. They're built on culture, coaching, and commitment. Texas Southern broke a 20-year curse. The next chapter is about proving it wasn't a fluke.
The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away. Welcome to HBCU football in 2025.