When Ohio State releases its official depth chart prior to next week’s season opener against Nebraska, there will likely be no shortage of “OR”s at the defensive end position.
Regardless of which two defensive ends will end up starting against the Cornhuskers on Oct. 24 – it would be a surprise if Jonathon Cooper isn’t one of them – the Buckeyes will likely list all of their top five defensive ends as co-starters on their official depth chart.
Why? Because Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson believes all five of them – Cooper, Tyler Friday, Zach Harrison, Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Tyreke Smith – are all worthy of being starters, and he plans on giving each of them the opportunity to start at some point this season.