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Ohio State Football: Which defensive end can be next great game-wrecker?

By Ben Swanger

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Defensive end Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tigers defeated the Buckeyes 29-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: Defensive end Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Clemson Tigers at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tigers defeated the Buckeyes 29-23. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Jonathon Cooper #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – OCTOBER 20: Jonathon Cooper #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes during the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Ohio State football program has notoriously fashioned one of the fiercest defensive end groups in college football, but one player always seems to rise above. Chase Young is moving on to the NFL after a record-breaking three-year career in Columbus, so who is next in line to fill his shoes?

In recent years the Bosa brothers and Chase Young have headlined an Ohio State D-line unit that has been among the best in college football. Going back a bit further, Mike Vrabel, Vernon Gholston and Will Smith, just to name a few, have all dominated opposing offensive linemen as top five edge rushers for the Bucks.

Come the 2020 season the Buckeyes will have solid depth up front for Defensive Line Coach Larry Johnson to work with, but the task for Johnson will be to develop that next level edge rusher Buckeye fans have been accustomed to watching.

Let’s take a look at some of Ohio State’s options beginning with a familiar face.

Jonathon Cooper:

Veteran Buckeye and fifth-year senior Jonathon Cooper has to be at the top of this list. Cooper only appeared in four games in 2019 due to a high ankle sprain and took a medical redshirt in order to return to Columbus for his fifth season. Despite the nagging ankle injury, Cooper came back to play his final game in 2019 in The Game as he recorded a sack on Shea Patterson.

Cooper has 6.5 career sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. In 2018 he was honorable mention All-Big Ten. Cooper will come into the season as a leader and should be coming in hungry to prove that his final year in Scarlet and Gray will be his best yet.

Buckeye fans can count on Cooper as a reliable force up front in 2020. Now I’ll look at a younger player who many expect to become a star, and soon.

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