UCGrad1992
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I Root For: Bearcats U
Location: North Carolina
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RE: FB Class of 2022
A potential sniper/hybrid LB position recruit with Bearcats blood...
Quote:Playing FBS football is the goal for many kids that perform on Friday nights in the fall, and Eli Coppess is no different. As the son of former Bearcat linebacker, Jason Coppess, the junior safety from Pickerington North High School has football in his blood.
The elder Coppess was recruited to UC by Tim Murphy in 1989, and after redshirting as a true freshman, the 6-foot-2, 240 pounder became a four year starter recording 305 career stops. In his final season at Clifton, Coppess was named a team captain (along with Jocelyn Borgella, Chris Hewitt, David Small and Ray Woodside- whose son Colin plays at UC) and was named to the All-Independent Football Alliance.
Jason followed in the footsteps of his older brother Jack (who was a 6-foot-3, 265 pound All-MAC defensive lineman at Bowling Green in 1985), and Eli is hoping he can also extend his football career beyond high school. At least, that’s always been part of the plan as Jason recently explained to Bearcat Journal.
“I’m wondering if maybe people see him (Eli) as a ‘tweener,’” stated the elder Coppess. “Maybe he doesn’t have the measurables right now of being 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. They play him on the back end of the defense at Pickerington North, and we moved here from a smaller school (Bloom Carroll) where he started both ways as a freshman (and sophomore).”
As a junior playing safety and returning punts for the Panthers, Eli Coppess was named 1st team All-OCC and 2nd team Division I all-district. In eight games last season, Eli recorded 39 tackles and returned two punts for scores, but the recruiting process (like many other things) has likely been slowed by COVID-19 concerns as fewer coaches are able to get out and see kids play in person and are unable to bring them on campus and “eyeball” them.
Another concern for college recruiters is the fact that 2020 collegiate players will not lose a year of eligibility by participating this season, and no one is yet clear how that will affect the 85 scholarship limit.
Additionally, juniors-to-be were unable to attend many summer camps and get the much needed firsthand exposure that often brought scholarship offers from college coaches, but with vaccines on the way, hopefully, players like Eli Coppess will be able to attend college camps this summer and makeup for lost time.
Nevertheless, after checking with sources on both ends of this recruiting situation, Bearcat Journal confirmed that Cincinnati is aware of this legacy playing up I-71 and there has been some contact through phone calls and texts despite Coppess being a 2022 recruit. Some more seasoned Bearcat football fans might get excited about possibly seeing Act 2 of a Dingle/Coppess/Woodside reunion in the 2020’s.
Nate Dingle (father of UC sophomore Jacob and soon-to-be signee Jack) and Coppess helped Cincinnati break a ten year streak of losing records when the Bearcats posted an 8-3 record in 1993.
Although Jason Coppess would love to see his son don the Paw C helmet, he also knows the program is riding a wave of on-field success that is attracting prospects from all over the country.
“With all the things UC has going on with the winning, they’re recruiting some high level kids,” stated Coppess. “In my opinion, I’m not necessarily sure they’re any better than Eli, but they are going after players that are getting offers from Michigan, Penn State and sometimes even Ohio State.”
Because of the Coppess genes, it wouldn’t be surprising if Eli had a growth spurt in the coming years that might project his playing closer to the line of scrimmage in college. Jason came to UC weighing just 210 pounds. He exited at 240 pounds.
Eli’s 4.61 laser timed 40-yard-dash might look more attractive as a linebacker, but Jason Coppess mentioned that his son might also be a good fit at a position that didn’t exist when he was playing the game.
“I don’t really know where he’d play in college,” stated Eli’s father. “He might be good at that hybrid (S/OLB) position so many schools are using.”
At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Eli Coppess might offer some versatility to the defensive coordinator that ultimately lands him. Currently, he plays as the lone safety in Pickerington North’s defensive scheme, and he explained his responsibilities.
“They like to call me a free safety, and they want me in the middle of the field tracking down the ball carrier but also not letting any receivers get behind me,” said the younger Coppess. “I think I have a good football IQ. I’m pretty good reading the quarterback and figuring out where the ball’s going to go.”
Coppess is definitely a smart kid even off the field as proven by his 3.8 GPA. Jason’s old UC coach, Tim Murphy (Harvard), has also been in contact with the Pickerington North junior.
Even though UC might be Eli’s dream school, he’s also very interested in playing at MAC institutions.
“(Attending) Cincinnati would be cool since my Dad played there, and I’ve always been a fan,” he stated. “My Dad had season tickets when I was younger, but it’s been harder to get there since I’ve been in high school. I’ve also been to Ohio University. It’s really cool there. I like a lot of MAC schools. My uncle played at Bowling Green. I think it would be a great school to go to. I also like Ohio and Miami and most of the other MAC schools. I think any of those schools would be a great fit for me.”
It may seem early to be discussing 2022 prospects since the recruiting class of 2021 has yet to sign, but that’s become the nature of college recruiting these days, and Eli Coppess is a name that could get more play in the coming months.
Eli Coppess Recruit
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