2026 No. 1 RB Derrek Cooper visiting Ohio State

The recruitment of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna four-star running back Derrek Cooper has had a Southeastern flavor to it thus far. Ohio State will look to change that.

The likes of Miami, Auburn and Alabama have had Cooper on campus this fall and the 6-foot, 190-pounder announced on Monday that he’s now slated to head up to Columbus to visit the Buckeyes this weekend.

I will be at the Ohio state vs Purdue game this Saturday!! Go buckeyes 🌰 @Locklyn33 @TonyJCoach @Jermiah_Smith1 @Bill_Kurelic @adamgorney @JohnGarcia_Jr @SWiltfong_

— Derrek Cooper (@DerrekCooper80) November 4, 2024

Ryan Day and Co. are putting together an important list of visitors for the upcoming showdown against Purdue, with the Cooper the latest to announce his expected attendance. Ohio State offered back in May and will now look to make an in-person splash in the coming days.

Cooper is the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 1 RB in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 junior in Florida.

Cooper coming off string of impressive visits to early contenders

It’s been a busy fall for the Sunshine State standout — who was in Coral Gables over the weekend to see Miami topple Duke. The in-state Hurricanes have been a fixture in Cooper’s recruitment and made another big move to kick off November.

“My experience at The U was amazing as always,” Cooper told On3. “I’m continuing to build relationships with the coaches and players. What continues to excite me about my opportunities at The U is the ability to use their backs a lot.”

He was also in Tuscaloosa last month to watch Alabama roll past Missouri. Kalen DeBoer and the new-look Crimson Tide staff have the attention of Cooper, too.

“The experience at Tuscaloosa, they made it feel like home,” Cooper said after the visit. “What excites me about my opportunity with the Tide is their ability to put and produce people in the league.”

At the end of September, Cooper took in his first game at Jordan-Hare Stadium on a visit to Auburn. Despite watching the Tigers fall to Oklahoma, he was blown away by his experience on The Plains.

“Man, the experience was so surreal,” Cooper told Auburn Live’s Cole Pinkston. “Every first down the crowd was just hyped, everything was so loud I could barely think. It was so loud, I loved the crowd tonight. It looked solid tonight. Oklahoma is a great team. It was a good game today.”

Ohio State will look to join the list of positive visits this weekend. The Buckeyes currently have just one commit in the 2026 class, but it’s a big one, as Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei Five-Star Plus+ wide receiver commit Chris Henry Jr. is the No. 1 junior in the nation.