Jordan Hancock is finally carving out a role in his third year in Ohio State’s program.
Not at his traditional outside corner spot, however. Week 2 saw the Georgia native eat up 21 snaps, second-most among defensive players who didn’t start Saturday’s game against Youngstown State, at nickel.
“It went well,” Hancock said. “There’s some stuff I need to work on. I feel like I still have room for improvement. I don’t ever want to put a ceiling on myself. But it’s a lot of fun, I love that spot.”
As the Buckeyes work to find a rotation that complements starting nickel Sonny Styles, Hancock’s pure coverage skill set and physicality have ensured that his name isn’t a forgotten one.
“He’s an athletic, competitive guy who’s shown also, from that position, a willingness to tackle,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “Those guys get into the mix some and tackle. So he showed the toughness, also with having the footspeed of a corner, which is, ideally, what you look for.”
Hancock said that playing his newfound slot role has been “fun,” especially since he’s willing to welcome the challenges that come with it.
Teams often play their fastest, most dynamic receiver out of the slot to take advantage of the extra space in that part of the field with a player’s after-the-catch ability and the occasional deep ball. Hancock feels he has the tools to challenge such players.
“My athleticism, my length,” Hancock said. “I can get my hands on receivers from further away because I’m lanky. But my athleticism plays a big part in that too.”
Cornerbacks coach Tim Walton agrees.
“He’s smart, tough. He’s a physical player,” Walton said. “He understands the game, he processes things well, he has good cover skills and he brings a toughness and a competitive discipline and attitude to the secondary.”
Of course, playing closer to the box also means some involvement in run defense. Hancock stated that he’s willing to stay strong in those instances as well.
“More than willing,” Hancock said. “I’ll come and hit you.”
Where he’s still adjusting, he noted, is in his eye discipline. What a player watches at corner and nickel are different, and Hancock said he’s been watching a lot of film with Walton and working with other Ohio State staffers behind the scenes to learn what he should be looking for.
“I have more gaps to fill, orbit motions and stuff like that,” Hancock said. “Corner, you don’t get too many motions like that.”
Hancock rotated in at outside cornerback with Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun in the season opener against Indiana, and Walton says he could continue to do that as well, though the nickel position is Hancock’s primary focus for now.
“It’s forever changing, but that’s kind of how it is right now,” Walton said. “But Jordan will work outside as well, we’ll be moving guys around. We just have to always find the right mix. Sometimes things change based on who you’re playing.”
Western Kentucky’s offense could call upon Hancock’s skill set as much or more than most other offenses Ohio State will play this year.
Not only do the Hilltoppers run an Air Raid scheme, but their star receiver Malachi Corley plays out of the slot. No receiver across college football that returned for the 2023 season collected more receiving yards than Corley’s 1,295 in 2022.
Guarding such a player and facing such an offense should be a good test of how far Hancock has come in his new role.
“I’m looking forward to a lot of opportunities for us to make plays and get turnovers,” Hancock said. “We’ve really got to make turnovers. I feel like this is the game for that.”
