Elijah Cooks Bio
Elijah Stephen Cooks is an American professional football wide receiver who has played in the National Football League (NFL) and, more recently, in the United Football League (UFL). After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has since had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and the New Orleans Saints, along with a move to the Birmingham Stallions. Standing 6 ft 4 in and listed at 215 lb, Cooks has built his career on size, sure hands, and the ability to contribute on special teams.
A native of the Central Coast of California, Cooks attended Atascadero High School before playing five seasons of college football at the University of Nevada. He later transferred to San Jose State University, where he produced his most complete season and earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Stephen Cooks was born on October 13, 1998, in Santa Maria, California. He grew up on the Central Coast, where he first attended St. Joseph High School, playing both football and basketball during his early teenage years. Midway through his tenth-grade year, the family relocated to nearby Atascadero, and Cooks transferred to Atascadero High School to finish his prep career.
At Atascadero, Cooks quickly developed into one of the more productive receivers in the region. As a senior in 2016, he recorded 56 receptions for 966 yards and 15 touchdowns, a performance that earned him the Pac 5 Offensive Player of the Year award. His high school production drew attention from several college programs and set the stage for a multi-year college path.
Path to American Football
Cooks committed to play football at the University of Nevada on February 1, 2017, choosing the Wolf Pack over Hawaii, Wyoming, Fresno State, and San Jose State. He spent five seasons in Reno, working his way into a regular role on offense while adjusting to the physical demands of major college football. In a brief detour from his primary sport, Cooks also joined the Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball team for four games during the 2017–18 season, serving as a temporary replacement for an injured player and averaging about one minute of playing time per game.
After missing the entire 2020 season because of a shoulder injury and playing only three games in 2021 before another season-ending injury, Cooks decided to use his remaining eligibility as a graduate transfer. He moved on from the Wolf Pack in search of a stronger final college season, one that would give him a credible shot at an NFL opportunity in 2023.
Elijah Cooks Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
Across his five seasons at Nevada from 2017 to 2021, Cooks appeared in 35 games between 2017 and 2019, establishing himself as a reliable pass catcher. He finished his time with the Wolf Pack with 115 receptions for 1,478 yards and 18 touchdowns, a steady statistical foundation that reflected his growth from a lightly recruited high schooler into a dependable target at the college level.
His development was slowed by injuries, including a shoulder issue that cost him the 2020 season and a separate injury in 2021 that limited him to three games. Those setbacks, however, did not derail his long-term plan. With an extra year of eligibility remaining, Cooks used the experiences at Nevada as preparation for a productive final college season elsewhere.
San Jose State Breakthrough (2022)
As a graduate transfer at San Jose State University in 2022, Cooks produced his most statistically productive season and emerged as a key piece of the Spartans’ passing game. His size, route running, and red-zone reliability gave the San Jose State offense a much-needed big target on the outside, and he became a consistent option for the quarterbacks throughout the year.
His strong final season was rewarded with a selection to the All-Mountain West first team in 2022, the highest individual recognition of his college career. That honor helped push him onto NFL scout radars and set the stage for his first professional opportunity following the 2023 NFL draft.
Elijah Cooks Career Wins
As a wide receiver whose professional résumé has been built on production, dependability, and special-teams value rather than headline-grabbing statistics, Cooks has accumulated a steady body of work at multiple levels. He leaves college with 115 receptions for 1,478 yards and 18 touchdowns at Nevada, followed by an All-Mountain West first-team selection at San Jose State in 2022.
College Highlights
His most decorated college campaign came during the 2022 season at San Jose State, where he earned first-team All-Mountain West recognition. His 1,478 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns at Nevada, paired with his 56-catch, 966-yard, 15-touchdown senior season at Atascadero High School, gave him a track record of consistent production entering the professional ranks.
Elijah Cooks Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Elijah Stephen Cooks was raised on the California Central Coast, growing up in Santa Maria before his family moved to Atascadero during his high school years. The relocation shaped his athletic path, giving him the chance to develop at Atascadero High School after beginning his prep career at St. Joseph High School.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transitional period for Cooks, as he began it on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before being waived and re-signed during final roster cuts in late August. After his release on September 8, he remained in free agency for several months before being signed to the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad on December 18, 2025. He then signed a reserve/future contract with New Orleans in January 2026.
On the field, his statistical contributions remained limited, with his career NFL numbers through 2024 showing 3 receptions for 38 receiving yards. Those figures reflect a role focused on practice-squad development, special-teams play, and learning multiple offensive systems rather than featured offensive production.
Looking ahead, Cooks’s outlook for the 2025 season and beyond centers on continuing to compete for a roster spot, refining his route tree, and demonstrating his value on special teams. His size and athleticism give him a clear path to a reserve or practice-squad role with an opportunity to grow into a larger offensive role when injuries or performance open the door.