Ohio State HC Ryan Day said on Tuesday that he still plans to redshirt senior DE Jonathon Cooper so he can return in 2020.
Cooper (6'4/257) has only appeared in three games this season, meaning that he can only play in one more if this season of eligibility is to be preserved. The senior defensive end has been dealing with undisclosed health issues for much of this season, and for that reason Day wants to redshirt Cooper with an eye towards 2020. “He deserves to play a full senior year, and I know he wants to,” Day said on Tuesday. And with Chase Young expected to be a top-5 pick in next spring’s draft, bringing a healthy Cooper back would help fill that void next season.