PORTLAND – Thurlow “Coop” Cooper, a former University of Maine football star who was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, has died at the age of 74.

Cooper, who died Thursday at Maine Medical Center, played end for the Black Bears and was team captain when he was drafted in 1956. He elected to return to school for his senior year before going to the pros.

Although he was dropped from the Cleveland roster before the season started, Cooper was picked up as a linebacker by the New York Giants in 1959 and was signed the following year by the struggling New York Titans, later to become the Jets.

Cooper later settled in Falmouth and began a career as a sales representative.