Ohio State hosts No. 1 linebacker from 2027 class, the son of former Dallas Cowboys star..

Ohio State hosts No. 1 linebacker from 2027 class, the son of former Dallas Cowboys star

Ohio — Five-star linebacker Cooper Witten is no stranger to the spotlight. Or at least, seeing it from afar.

His father, Jason, was an 11-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Dallas Cowboys and a two-time All-Pro. He’s likely a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

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And now, he coaches his son at Liberty Christian in Argyle, Texas. And Cooper certainly is good enough to pave his own path.

He was on campus for a one-day camp on Thursday at Ohio State, giving linebackers coach James Laurinaitis and the rest of the Buckeye defensive staff a chance to see him up close.

“I learned a lot,” Witten said. “Coach Laurinaitis is a great coach, he’s played the position at a high level in the NFL. So he taught me a lot over the course of this camp. Lot of good points to bring back to my high school.”

Witten is the No. 17 overall player and No. 1 linebacker in the 2027 class, and is making his way around the country to see some of the top programs and what they have to offer.

He listed Ohio State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Clemson and Notre Dame as schools that are standing out in his recruitment. The Buckeyes were “definitely” in the top five, he said.

He’d like to make a decision on his college future in about a year’s time.

The offer from Ohio State meant a lot to him, when he received it on March 21 earlier this year.

“It was a huge honor, especially because they just came off a national championship,” he said.

Witten said that he’s been able to rely on his father for advice throughout the process, but now, he’ll prepare for his junior season with a trip to Ohio State in the rearview mirror.

The Buckeyes are certainly giving him something to think about in his recruitment, as Laurinaitis could be able to add another five-star talent to his linebacker room.

“With all the experience coach Laurinaitis has and coach (Matt) Patricia winning Super Bowls, there’s no one been at a higher level than those two,” Witten said.