Recently offered running back Derrek Cooper set to camp at Ohio State in June
COLUMBUS — Ohio State signed Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver Jeremiah Smith out of Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep in the 2024 class and the Buckeyes are hoping to land another Lion in the 2026 class as they offered On3 Outlier running back Derrek Cooper on Thursday.
Ohio State was an offer that Cooper, the No. 17 overall prospect in the 2026 On300, was working for so it meant a lot when running backs coach Carlos Locklyn issued the offer late last week.
“Man, it means a lot. I was waiting for that offer for a little minute,” Cooper told Lettermen Row. “I’m planning to go up there for a camp visit, you know, do some camping on June 13.”
Locklyn views the 6-foot and 190-pound Cooper as a running back at the next level and the two are building their relationship.
“We’re getting the relationship started. I’ve been starting to talk to him. I call him, you know, just getting it started.”
In building a bond with Locklyn, Cooper has also made it a point to learn more about his coaching style and he likes what he has seen so far.
“I’ve seen him coach a little bit. You know, he coached me up a little bit, he watched my film. I like this ability to not be too aggressive but he just criticizes very well.”
Cooper is also a big fan of the running back tradition at Ohio State.
“I love their ability to develop backs into great NFL backs. I see myself as that. It started with Ezekiel Elliott, you know, he’s a great back.”
Cooper isn’t the only 2026 Chaminade-Madonna prospect with an Ohio State offer either. Four-star wide receiver Jabari Brady transferred from Monarch H.S. to Chaminade-Madonna this offseason. The Buckeyes are a major contender in that recruitment as well.
Cooper is considered an On3 Outlier because On3 ranks him as the No. 17 overall prospect and the No. 2 athlete prospect in the 2026 class while no other recruiting service ranks him higher than the No. 96 overall prospect in the class.
Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Oregon and Penn State are among the other programs that have offered Cooper to date.
The post Recently offered running back Derrek Cooper set to camp at Ohio State in June appeared first on On3.
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