Jonathon Cooper is Ohio’s Next Great Defensive Lineman

As you have read before from previous articles, Urban Meyer does not have to search far and wide in the 2016 class for the best talent across the nation.  A lot of the talent he can recruit is right in the home state of Ohio. That does not change when you meet Gahanna Lincoln’s Jonathon Cooper.  Cooper is one of the nation’s most sought after recruits in the nation.  The 6-3 and 215 pound prospect has offers from the likes of Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.  One offer that he really wants is an Ohio State offer.  Although they have been showing a lot of interest, they have not pulled the trigger on an offer.  He has been trying to earn an offer from them by going to some of their camps.  He went to a camp on June 8th and thinks he helped himself a lot with his performance.

Kentucky is the favorite for Cooper, but with an Ohio State offer, they would join Kentucky at the top.

“I did very well!” Cooper said of his performance at the camp.  “I played both linebacker and defensive end so I was coached by both Luke Fickell and Larry Johnson.  I played well for both positions but they told me I could really do well as a pass rusher, so that is what they would want me to play.”

Cooper did not walk away with an offer from Ohio State after the camp, but that did not discourage him or shake his interest in Ohio State.  He likes Ohio State a lot and one of the main reasons is because of the bond between coaches and players.  “I just like how the coaches treat their players,” he said of why he likes Ohio State. “I also have a very strong relationship with Coach Fickell.  I call him from time to time and we do not even talk about football most of the time.”

Cooper did tell me that although he really likes Ohio State, it is Kentucky that is the favorite.  He holds an offer from Kentucky and loves everything about the program.  He did tell me that if Ohio State did offer him, they would jump up right in the top group with Kentucky. He does not plan on making a decision until after his junior season of football.  As for the rest of the summer, he is going to be working hard in the weight room and on the practice field for the upcoming season.  He is going to be at Kentucky’s Friday Night Lights on July 18th and then Ohio State’s Friday Night Lights on July 25th.  I think that Ohio State is going to offer him right after that camp.  I think when he is offered, Ohio State is going to become the favorite.  I think that Cooper is going to be a part of this class.  He does love Ohio State, they just need to show him how interested they are and offer.  He is a very talented prospect and one that we should be keeping track off during his recruitment.