The first four preseason camp practices have shown why Jermaine Mathews Jr. is the ultimate luxury item for Ohio State’s secondary.
The sophomore defensive back, who made big-time contributions playing in some big-time spots as a freshman, would probably start for most college football teams in 2024. But for the Buckeyes, who return each of their three starting cornerbacks from 2023, Mathews is likely to be the backup for all three spots – or at least two of them.
“Jermaine has already shown us that he can play in the big moments,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said on Friday. “He had to go as a starting corner against Penn State. And they went after him. So Jermaine has already shown that he can be a gamer, and that’s why he’s some nickel – we’re trying to find a home for him. ... But I know Jermaine is gonna be there come game time.”
Cross-training at both outside cornerback and nickel, Mathews closed a standout first four days of August with a pick-six and a PBU against freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith in Sunday’s practice.
The Ohio native and 247Sports composite top-60 prospect enjoyed a breakout performance when then-No. 3 Ohio State defeated No. 7 Penn State 20-12 on Oct. 21, 2023, a huge game for the Buckeyes’ defense as a whole. Mathews played 47 of the team’s 70 defensive snaps while helping fill in for an injured Denzel Burke, taking an outside corner spot whenever Jordan Hancock was playing nickel.
The Nittany Lions tried to attack Mathews as Knowles said, but to no avail. He recorded three tackles, one of which stopped Penn State short on a third down, and a pass breakup which also prevented a third-down conversion. PSU quarterback Drew Allar threw for a measly 4.5 yards per attempt in the contest.
Ryan Day used the word “talent” three times in a 17-second span while discussing Mathews on Thursday.
“He has quickness and he has twitch and he’s competitve,” Day said. “That’s a guy who, again, has a lot of talent. He’s gotta continue to build discipline in his life, very important. And he can be a contributor, you see the talent there. And he’s gotta have a good preseason for us. But the talent is definitely there.”
Mathews also turned heads against Western Kentucky in Week 3 of last season when he recorded a 58-yard pick-six.
PICK SIX@Jr2Maine takes it for 58-yards and the @OhioStateFB TD pic.twitter.com/YXCX0hclTl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 16, 2023
What followed was an offseason building upon those experiences. Mathews drew rave reviews from cornerback coach Tim Walton for his improvements during spring practice, and he’s emerged as the top backup behind starters Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun on the outside.
“He’s taken a great step forward,” Walton said in March. “He’s the next guy up, man. He’s been extremely important in the growth of our secondary because now we’ve worked him inside some, he’s played outside at both corner spots. He’s got that ‘it’ factor, you know what I mean? So we look at what he brings, the energy, the competitiveness, we’ve gotta build off last year and expand the role for him.”
Lorenzo Styles Jr. – who could contend with Mathews to be Ohio State’s second nickel behind Jordan Hancock – has been limited the first four days of fall camp while recovering from an offseason injury, though he’s expected to return to being a full participant soon.
Hancock enjoyed a breakout 2023 with 41 tackles, two sacks, five pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which he returned 93 yards for a pick-six. Behind him, however, nickel depth is a general concern for Knowles.
“I think our depth at nickel concerns me,” Knowles said. “Lorenzo has been hurt, he’s coming back. Hopefully he’ll fill that. Right now, behind Jordan, everybody’s kind of taking shots. Jermaine’s taken some shots. Denzel’s taken some shots. Everybody (at corner) is learning the position.”
“He can be a contributor, you see the talent there. And he’s gotta have a good preseason for us. But the talent is definitely there.”– Ryan Day on Jermaine Mathews Jr.
One of Ohio State’s top priorities this offseason is building depth for a potential extended College Football Playoff run and rolling more players to keep starters healthy for the long haul. If Mathews emerges as the team’s second nickel, it’s one more place he can factor into its defensive plans.
But his performance through four days of fall camp has shown why he’s likely to have a role regardless for the Buckeyes’ secondary, which returns four starters from the nation’s No. 1 pass defense in 2023 and added the nation’s No. 1 transfer in safety Caleb Downs. It feels like the ultimate luxury.
