Florida Highway Patrol said Cooper, a 17-year-old rear passenger, died at the scene after a single-vehicle crash on Thomasville Road in Leon County late Saturday.
The sedan went onto the shoulder near Amber Valley Drive, struck a culvert, went airborne, hit a utility pole and overturned; Cooper was ejected and was not wearing a seat belt.
Two 18-year-olds — the driver and front passenger — were taken to TMH with critical injuries, and the crash briefly closed an outside lane on Thomasville Road.
Thomas County Central High School identified the victim as Deontavis Jamario "Big Coop" Cooper, a Yellow Jackets football player who was set to play for Tulane later this year.
FHP has not said what caused the car to veer off the road, while the school, Tulane and coach Justin Rogers remembered Cooper for his kindness and impact.
How will a community and university honor an athlete who was one week away from his future?
Does this star athlete's fatal crash expose overlooked dangers for teen drivers on local roads?