The Biggest Takeaways from Ohio State Recruits Performance at The Opening

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Reigning national champion Ohio State was well-represented at The Opening this week, as several future Buckeyes battled alongside and against America’s top college football recruits.

The event included more than 160 high school standouts, some already committed to Ohio State and others among head coach Urban Meyer’s top targets. Bleacher Report enjoyed a close-up look throughout the event at Nike’s world headquarters, picking up some interesting notes on Ohio State’s potential future playmakers.

Here’s a look at takeaways that should pique the interest of Buckeyes fans.

Jonathan Cooper Could Earn a Fifth Star

Columbus native Jonathan Cooper committed to Ohio State last fall and remains the program’s highest-ranked defensive pledge. The 6’3½”, 230-pound pass-rusher is a key component of a class that currently rates third nationally in composite rankings.

The group features an FBS-best 14 4-star prospects, but it doesn’t contain a composite 5-star recruit. That may change soon, following Cooper’s impressive performance in Beaverton.

The Gahanna Lincoln High School product kept elite offensive linemen off balance and broke through with several highlight-reel efforts. He actually landed atop a top-10 list of plays in a video presented at the event’s closing ceremonies.

Cooper seemed to be on a mission from the start and took several opponents to school, including 4-star Michigan State pledge Michael…

Continue Reading: The Biggest Takeaways from Ohio State Recruits Performance at The Opening