In each of the last three seasons, Ohio State has started a freshman cornerback in at least one game.
In the 2021 campaign, Denzel Burke was the team’s primary starter. Jyaire Brown started one game in 2022 and Jermaine Mathews Jr. lined up outside to begin the game for the Buckeyes last week against Rutgers. Injuries to other cornerbacks may have forced Brown and Mathews into action earlier than expected, but both were given a chance to play after impressing the Buckeyes with their performance in fall camp.
Early playing time for Ohio State’s rookie cornerbacks has gone a long way for the Buckeyes in their recruiting pitches to prospective recruits, too.
“It’s huge,” Ryan Day said on Tuesday. “The response we’ve gotten from the recruits is excellent. Here, they see it. They’re looking really close. Because it’s one thing to say it, it’s another to actually see it. So, we make sure that they see it.”
Through a combination of that and the respect Tim Walton has garnered on the recruiting trail in his time with the Buckeyes, Ohio State has landed no shortage of cornerbacks rated as top 100 players in their recruiting, such as Mathews and Calvin Simpson-Hunt in the 2023 class, Bryce West and Aaron Scott in 2024 and Blake Woodby in the 2025 cycle.
Ohio State hopes that momentum continues recruiting cornerbacks moving forward.
Jett White puts Ohio State in top 10, sets commitment date
Speaking of cornerbacks, one of the Buckeyes’ targets for the 2025 class, four-star Florida prospect Jett White, has released a final 10 schools and has set a commitment date for Jan. 6. White will commit during the All-American Bowl broadcast on NBC and choose from a group of schools that includes Ohio State, Alabama, Maryland, Miami, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, Louisville, Penn State and USC.
White told 247Sports this week Florida is coming after him the hardest, while Oregon and Penn State are right behind the Gators. He added no decision has been made as of yet.
“They have great facilities and I really like coach (Tim) Walton and coach (Gerren) Duhart a lot,” White told 247Sports about the Buckeyes. “Plus I’ll have a chance to battle against the best receivers in the country every day in practice.”
White received his Ohio State offer on March 20 after visiting campus for a spring practice and spoke glowingly of the Buckeyes. Per 247Sports’ composite rankings, White is considered the 270th-best prospect and 31st-ranked cornerback in the 2025 class.
“I was extremely excited to get that offer,” White told Eleven Warriors after the visit. “(Coach Walton) told me he liked my length, smoothness and athletic ability. This offer ranks near the top (of my list).”
As of now, it’s probably a safe bet to pick the field over Ohio State with White’s decision being nearly two months away. Ohio State's top cornerback target in 2025, Devin Sanchez, is committing on the same day at the same venue, so Buckeye fans will have multiple reasons to tune in to the All-American Bowl.
Myron Charles puts Buckeyes in top 12
An Ohio State defensive line target in the 2025 class has narrowed down his recruitment. Four-star Florida prospect Myron Charles released a top 12 on Thursday consisting of Ohio State, Florida State, Michigan, Colorado, LSU, Alabama, Penn State, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee, USC and Oklahoma.
NEWS: Four-Star DL Myron Charles has narrowed his list to 12 Schools!
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 9, 2023
The 65 280 DL from Port Charlotte, FL is ranked as a Top 70 Recruit in the 2025 Class (No. 8 DL)
Where Should He Go?https://t.co/DoFRcUhQ4j pic.twitter.com/bE8Qa1yFuo
Charles is considered the No. 145 prospect and the 17th-ranked defensive lineman in the class. He earned his Ohio State offer on Feb. 10.
So far this season for Port Charlotte High School (Port Charlotte, Florida), Charles has recorded 17 tackles (6.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries and two pass deflections. In his junior year, Charles recorded 32 tackles (seven for loss), four sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Ohio State preparing to host more than 40 recruits this weekend.
In case you missed it from earlier today, Ohio State is preparing to host more than 40 prospects on campus this weekend from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 classes for its primetime matchup with Michigan State.
The Buckeyes have their eyes set on flipping a few key 2024 prospects, which you can read about here.
