Cooper switches from Illini to Huskers

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Proviso East defensive back Corey Cooper decommitted from Illinois and signed with Nebraska Wednesday morning during a press conference at the Maywood school.

‘‘It was real tough,’’ Cooper said. ‘‘But I feel like I fit in there and I will be comfortable. I had committed to [Illinois’] coaches and not to the program.’’

The 6-2, 200-pound Cooper, who also played at wide receiver for the Pirates, made an official visit to Nebraska in early December and decided to sign with the Cornhuskers on Saturday, Proviso East coach Aaron Peppers said.

‘‘[Nebraska coach Bo Pelini] was, as Corey put it, acting like he was already his coach,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘There were no whistling bells and trying to sell the school. It was no nonsense. He said, ‘If you come here, I’ll be on your butt.’ Corey said [Pelini] sounded like me.’’

Cooper told his family on Saturday that he was chosing Nebraska over Illinois and then informed Peppers on Monday. Cooper had committed to Illinois his junior year.

‘‘I feel for Illinois,’’ Peppers said. ‘‘Corey was committed to coach [Ron] Zook but not to the university.’’

Cooper chose Nebraska after making official visits to Illinois, Notre Dame and Arizona. Peppers said he and Cooper’s father called Zook to tell him Cooper signed with Nebraska.

‘‘I wanted them to do it,’’ Cooper said of calling Illinois. ‘‘I didn’t want them to put anything in my head. I had already made my decision.’’

Peppers said Cooper started changing his mind about the Illini after Illinois did not renew the contracts of four of Zook’s assistants in December.

‘‘I thought he was going to go to Illinois because he was solidly behind Illinois for a number of months,’’ CBS Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. ‘‘I thought he was one guy they were going to keep. I don’t know what happened.’’

Cooper is the second high profile area recruit to spurn the Illini in the past few months. Johnsburg’s 6-7, 245-pound tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, the top-rated tight end in the nation, decommitted from Illinois in November and committed to Iowa.

But Fiedorowicz’s decision to spurn the Illini didn’t influence Cooper.

‘‘It didn’t really [make a difference],’’ Cooper said. ‘‘He did what was best for him, and I did what was best for me.’’

Cooper had 50 tackles, two interceptions and 15 pass breakups this past season. Offensively, Cooper caught 41 passes for 700 yards and eight touchdowns.