The Ohio State Buckeyes dominate the NFL draft every year, and 2021 should be no different, especially with it kicking off in the great state of Ohio. On April 29th in Cleveland, the first round will commence, and there are a few Buckeyes worthy of hearing their name called.
We have been diving into the best comparisons for each Buckeye eligible to for the NFL draft and have already covered, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis and Luke Farrell. Today we are diving into fifth-year senior and former four-star prospect Jonathon Cooper.
Player Profile
Name: Jonathon Cooper
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-foot, 3-inches
Weight: 253-pounds
Jonathan Cooper could be a nice late round add too
— Tim Tully (@thefifthtim) March 30, 2021
NEXT … The closest all-around comp to Cooper
All-around Comparison: Marcus Davenport
Davenport was a much better prospect than Cooper coming out of UTSA and was drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft by the New Orleans Saints. He has had a fairly solid career up to this point and earned All-Rookie honors in 2018.
Cooper is not the prospect Davenport is and will be very lucky to have a career on the same level, but they are both similar in that they are jack of all trades, but master of none types. If not for Cooper’s lengthy injury history he may have had a shot at being an early-to-mid round prospect.
Leaders in pressure rate since Wk 5:
1. New Orleans – 48%
2. Pittsburgh – 46%
3. Tampa Bay – 45%Marcus Davenport has made a BIG impact since his return 💪 pic.twitter.com/WlgrD32eWp
— PFF (@PFF) November 10, 2020
NEXT … Best former Ohio State comp
Cooper’s best Buckeye Comparison: Tyquan Lewis
Like Davenport, Lewis was also a better prospect than Cooper coming out in 2018. Lewis was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Indianapolis Colts and has been a steady role player ever since.
Lewis and Cooper are very similar in the fact that they are steady and tough competitors, which should allow them to stick in the league as role players. Lewis has a bit more athleticism than Cooper, which is why Lewis was drafted higher. Both have a high motor and strong work ethic that seems to always translate well to any level.
All Ohio State football players eligible for the 2021 NFL draft
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