Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods four-star cornerback Jermaine Mathews has announced his commitment to Ohio State.
Mathews chose the Buckeyes over Alabama, Cincinnati, Jackson State, LSU, Oklahoma and Penn State due in large part to new secondary coach Tim Walton.
“Coach Walton, he played probably the biggest factor out of anybody with my decision. That’s just a guy that’s the perfect defensive back coach for me,” Mathews told 247Sports. “Just as a personal person I feel like he just checks a whole bunch of boxes. I really just like Coach Walton and the things he is just trying to do up there.”
The 6-foot and 175-pond Mathews earned an offer from Ohio State on June 1st following a standout camp performance. And he acknowledges that earning the offer at camp did make it mean more.
“A little bit, a little bit it just made me feel like I earned it,” said Mathews. “That’s really the difference that I actually earned the offer instead of them just calling my phone saying they offered me a scholarship.”
Mathews is a four-star in the 247Sports composite. He is rated as the No. 34 athletes, No. 10 prospects in Ohio and the No. 373 overall prospect in the 2023 class.
As a junior, Mathews helped lead Winton Woods to a Division II state title in Ohio and he is hoping the Warriors can repeat this fall. His desire to continue winning at the college level also played a role in him picking Ohio State.
“I think it’s just a place where I can just exceed and just learn and I just feel like we can win there. That was one of my emphases, winning,” said Mathes as to why he chose Ohio State. “Then it’s just a good atmosphere and I feel like they can just help me on and off the field.”
Mathews shares that desire to win with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day and that is something he loves about his future head coach.
“I love Coach Day because I feel he is trying to win. They’ve got like three goals as a team every year that is win the Big Ten, beat Michigan and win the Natty,” said Mathews.
With Mathews’ commitment, Day and Ohio State remain at No. 1 overall in the 2023 team recruiting rankings.
Here is what 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Allen Trieu says the Buckeyes are adding with Mathews: “Quick cover corner with the skills and tools to play man to man or in zone. Has good change of direction and recovery/closing speed. Shows he can play the ball in the air. Has to add weight and strength still. He was not a varsity starter until his junior year so he still has learning to do, but has improved rapidly and has the movement skills to be a high-end college corner and have a chance to play on Sundays. He fits as a player who could play both in the slot and outside. ”