EAST LANSING -- A decision about Demetrius Cooper's future with the Michigan State program will be made in the near future, according to coach Mark Dantonio.
The Michigan State senior defensive end has been suspended from the program for six months, Dantonio said on Tuesday. Cooper has had ongoing legal issues stemming from a 2016 assault and battery charge.
Dantonio said a final decision on his status with the program going forward will be made soon.
"That's an ongoing process," Dantonio said. "I have not made a final decision on that, but have talked at length about that, but just have not made a final decision.
"He's paying the consequences. He's been out for six months, but I have not made that decision yet. That's forthcoming shortly."
Dantonio said he will confer with others when making a decision on Cooper's status, but that the ultimate decision will be his to make. Michigan State begins its preseason camp late next month.
Cooper has had ongoing legal issues stemming from an October incident in which he was accused of spitting at a parking officer outside of an East Lansing restaurant.
He was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in early December, and entered a no contest plea in March in 54-B District Court. Judge Richard D. Ball took that plea under advisement, and scheduled sentencing for November.
In taking the plea under advisement, Ball set bond conditions for Cooper to follow before his sentencing, including not being charged with any crimes, not using or possessing alcohol and submitting to biweekly breath tests.
Cooper was accused of violating those conditions in April, when social media photos of him holding bottles of alcohol surfaced. Ball then updated his bond conditions to include daily breath tests.
Should Cooper comply with those conditions between now and November, his charge will be reduced to littering.
Cooper is the most experienced player on Michigan State's defensive line. After two seasons as a reserve in 2014 and 2015, he started 11 of 12 games for the team in 2016. He recorded 23 tackles with six for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Michigan State has already lost three would-be returners from a defensive line that struggled to create a pass rush last year. Malik McDowell left a year early for the NFL Draft, while Auston Robertson and Josh King were both dismissed from the program after being charged with sexual assault.