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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Mark Russell

Ohio State freshman Jermaine Mathews Jr. loses black stripe

Black stripe alert! Ohio State football officially welcomed another member to the Brotherhood earlier on Tuesday when true freshman Jermaine Mathews Jr. lost his black stripe.

Hailing from Cincinnati, Mathews was a top 150 prospect and the No. 14 cornerback in the nation according to the 247Sports rankings. Recruiting analyst Allen Trieu had this to say about Mathews:

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“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. … Was not a varsity starter until his junior year so 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. Fits as a player who could play both in the slot and outside.”

Mathews will look to help Ohio State get back its reputation of being DBU — or as the Buckeyes like to call it — BIA (Best in America).

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Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Mark Russell on X.

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