Winton Woods' dynamic DB duo of Mathews Jr., Calhoun ink NLIs with Big-10 rivals

On June 1, a contingent of Ohio State Buckeye football players that included quarterback C.J. Stroud, running backs Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson and star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba were cheering on one player at Ohio State’s first recruiting camp of the summer.

Oddly enough, Ohio State’s offensive stars were vocalizing their support for a defensive back.

“Offer this man!” one Buckeye shouted.

That man was Winton Woods’ corner Jermaine Mathews Jr., and his stock skyrocketed that sweltering afternoon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus.

“His camp performance was something to behold,” said Garrick Hodge, a recruiting reporter for Eleven Warriors. “He didn’t allow a catch in the 10 one-on-one drills I saw him participate in. He was shutting down opponents all day. I didn’t really fully understand how good Jermaine was until that day.”

Neither did Ohio State.

Just a few minutes after camp concluded, Mathews was offered by the Buckeyes.

“That was probably one of the craziest days of my life and I’ll remember it forever,” Mathews said. “I showed what I can do in front of a lot of people. It was something that needed to happen.”

Jermaine Mathews Jr. commits to Ohio State football

One month later, Mathews committed to Ohio State. Despite picking up additional offers in the fall from Miami Florida, Michigan, Mississippi and Clemson, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes earlier this month, leading to signing his National Letter of Intent to join the scarlet and gray Wednesday afternoon at Winton Woods High School.

“I have always felt that I’m in the best position (at Ohio State),” Mathews said. “Now it’s time to lock in.”

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Mathews, a four-star prospect, is the No. 2 recruit in Ohio for the Class of 2024 and the No.16 cornerback in the nation.

That makes it challenging to fathom that Mathews didn’t see any varsity action just two years ago as a sophomore.

How Jermaine Mathews Jr. became a top college prospect

Mathews hit the field as a junior and didn’t look back in making himself a household name in helping lead Winton Woods to a Division II state championship in 2021. That season, Mathews finished third in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference in interceptions (5) and forced fumbles (3).

“I always believed I was better than other people and it was time to show it (junior season) to show it,” Mathews said.

After the Ohio State camp performance, the Power-5 elites came calling.

“He got offers from LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama. National programs really took a vested interest in him and I think that’s just a testament to the work he put in and his relentless tenacity to keep getting better,” Hodge said. “It was pretty exciting to see how on the radar he became nationally.”

With the offers rolling in, Mathews’ confidence went through the roof, which is a key trait for any defensive back when lining up on an island against elite wide receivers.

“Every time you talk to him, he says he’s the best corner in the country,” Mathews said. “That’s the chip on his shoulder that has served corners pretty well.”

A confident Mathews was a nightmare for ECC quarterbacks last fall. He finished tied for the league lead with six interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He was also second in forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (4) and added two return touchdowns on special teams. He was named Ohio’s Division II defensive player of the year.

“I just wanted to prove it again my senior year and have a really good season,” Mathews said. “It was really a life-changing year for me.”

Jermaine Mathews Jr. wants to be next in line of great Ohio State cornerbacks

Mathews now heads north, looking to become the latest in a long line of Ohio State corners to hear their names during the NFL Draft. Since 2014, Ohio State has had 10 corners drafted, seven of which went in the first round.

“He’s a very smart player who reads plays and quarterbacks well,” Hodge said about Mathews’ game. “He excels in both man and zone coverages, so whichever scheme you want to throw him in, he’s not gonna have trouble reacting quickly. He obviously has agility and speed that can change the game at the next level and be ground-breaking defensively.”

Cameron Calhoun chooses Michigan football

Opposite Mathews on the Winton Woods’ defense was Cameron Calhoun, who was an All-Ohio selection each of the last two seasons.

Once a lethal tandem in the Warriors’ secondary, Calhoun and Mathews will be collegiate rivals. Calhoun, a three-star recruit, inked his National Letter of Intent to the University of Michigan.

Cameron Calhoun chose West Virginia, Cincinnati before settling on Wolverines

Calhoun’s signing ended a whirlwind recruiting ride for a Top-15 prospect in Ohio for the Class of 2024 and a Top-50 corner nationally, according to 247Sports. In March, Calhoun committed to West Virginia before decommitting in June. Eight days later, he committed to UC before decommitting in November.

Less than two weeks later, just hours after Michigan beat Ohio State in Columbus, he announced his decision to become a Wolverine.

“The way I was bonding with people that I didn’t even know. As soon as I met them, it was like I knew them for years and how protective they are over each other. The way they are about their business on and off the field definitely stood out,” Calhoun said of the decision to Hayes Fawcett of On3.com.

Calhoun was the ECC’s interception leader with 9 picks as a junior in 2021, leading to second-team All-Ohio honors and a state championship ring. Last season, Calhoun was first-team All-Ohio after defending 15 passes, intercepting five and returning one for a 100-yard touchdown in a Week 2 win over Walnut Hills.

How Cameron Calhoun fits in with Michigan football

Michigan’s defense, led by coordinator Jesse Minter, a 2005 Mount St. Joseph University graduate, likes to use their corners in a variety of ways, according to Seth Berry, a football recruiting reporter for Maize & Blue Review, which is part of the Rivals network.

“Sometimes they’ll bring a nickel corner in the box or blitz off the edge. In their base defense, their defensive backs are asked to stay on top of their routes, contest every ball,” Berry explained. “They like to mix man and zone. The main thing is they ask them to be contest passes and be physical with receivers.”

How does Calhoun fit with the Wolverines’ defense?

“He’s someone who is gonna fit Michigan’s scheme really well in terms of speed and recovery range,” Berry said. “If you see any of his film, he almost intentionally gives players space sometimes, then reads the quarterback’s eyes with closing speed to intercept those passes. He is unique in the sense of his range, athleticism plus his size.”

Michigan has had a recent track record of sending defensive backs to the NFL. In the last six years, nine corners have been selected, including slot corner/safety Dax Hill going 31^st overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in April.

“There are a lot of things Calhoun can bring to the Michigan defense,” Berry said. “I think he has the tools in his arsenal to make him a successful Big-10 corner.”

Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry with a Winton Woods twist

Mathews said he and Calhoun will always be friends, except for when the Buckeyes visit Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 25, 2023.

“Off the field, we love each other,” Mathews said. “When that game comes around and we’re in between the lines, I don’t know him.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jermaine Mathews Jr., Cameron Calhoun commit to rivals OSU, Michigan