Ohio State Recruiting: Scouting DE Jonathon Cooper
By Josh Keatley
Urban Meyer’s 2016 Ohio State recruiting class is filled with potential stars.
National Signing Day is almost here and we at Scarlet and Game would like to properly break down some of the biggest stars coming into the 2016 Ohio State recruiting class. Below is a breakdown of Jonathon Cooper the defensive end from Columbus, Ohio. Cooper is a hometown favorite with plenty of hype surrounding his early arrival. There are only seven players in the recruiting class enrolling early and Cooper is the prospect everyone will have their eyes on.
In a normal year Cooper would be the gem of the class, but Nick Bosa has been stealing most of the limelight away and the two are in the same position group. It is hard to remember a recruiting class with as much defensive line talent as this one. The superstar potential for both of these prospects is stunning and it should scare opponents.
Name: Jonathon Cooper
Rating: 4 Star
Position: DE
Height: 6-3
Weight: 235 lbs.
Chose Ohio State Over: Oklahoma & Notre Dame
Strengths: The combination of Bosa and Cooper in the same recruiting class should allow them to grow tpgether into a devastating dynamic for opposing offenses to deal with. Bosa brings more power and strength, while Cooper brings elite agility and speed that should help him become an immediate asset as a pass rusher. Cooper’s explosion off the ball should also be noted as he rarely gets beaten. Some scouts would argue that Cooper has possibly the best first step in this recruiting class.
His agility also allows him to be an extremely effective tackler in space, because few ball carriers can juke him and even fewer can bull him over. Being an effective tackler in space is an underrated trait for defensive lineman and this skill will make him an extremely versatile piece to any future defensive scheme.
Weaknesses: Cooper needs to work on his effectiveness in the run game. The extra time he has in the weight room this spring will go a long way in improving the strength needed to anchor the edge. Thankfully Cooper’s potential is sky high and his frame should allow him to continue to improve and develop the size needed to truly dominate the position. Cooper has the skills to see the field as a freshman for Ohio State, but again his biggest flaw is his lack of size. How much that will limit him at this point is unknown.
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The Buckeye staff will be extremely pleased to have this prospect in the weight room as soon as possible. Most of Cooper’s pass-rushing ability comes from his athleticism and adding more technique to his hand usage would make him even scarier off the edge. This is not a huge weakness, but another aspect that can help him reach his potential.
Overall: Like Bosa, Cooper should have every opportunity to prove his worth and he possess the skills to see the field early in his career. It cannot be stressed enough how huge it will be to have such a developmental prospect enrolled early at. Thanks to this opportunity, Cooper will be one of the first freshman to suit up for Ohio State and those extra weeks with the playbook and staff will be immense.
Clearly Cooper has not maxed out his frame, but he has the athleticism to compete on this level in some capacity, whether on passing downs or on special teams. There have been rumors that Cooper might make the move to outside linebacker, but this may just be a move to make early in his career until his frame is more developed. His pass rushing skills suit the end position better in the long run.
Comparison: Vernon Gholston: This is an intense comparison considering Gholston is one of the best to ever strap on the scarlet and gray. But Jonathon Cooper demonstrates much of the raw athleticism Gholston did when he came out of Detroit, Michigan. We all remember Gholston for his pass rushing prowess, but he was the total package at the end position for Ohio State. Cooper has a chance to reach those same standards and perhaps even surpass Gholston.
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It would not be surprising to see Cooper play as a freshman. Especially considering his early enrollee status and his potential in coverage if he fails to grow into the end position this season. Another factor to note is that if the Buckeyes run some 3-4, Cooper looks like he could be an option on the outside.