Jyaire Brown, JK Johnson give Buckeyes emergin depth in cornerback room

COLUMBUS — Football teams spend a lot of time trying to build depth, but when it can be tested in a real game and pass the test, such as with the Ohio State defensive backfield the past two weeks, that moves the exercise up several notches.

Remember against Toledo when two of the three starting safeties, Tanner McCalister and Josh Proctor, suddenly were declared unavailable and Lathan Ransom and Cameron Martinez filled the gaps? One can’t purchase that kind of experience, even with the best name image and likeness deal.

Then came this past week, heading toward the Big Ten opener with Wisconsin. McCalister and Proctor were back for Ohio State, but one of the starting cornerbacks Cameron Brown was ruled out in the week with an undisclosed malady. Then the other No.1 corner, Denzel Burke, suffered a hand injury that reportedly required surgery. There was a thought he’d still be able to play, wearing a big padded club on the hand, but finally was ruled out.

Into the breaches were shoved JK Johnson, a redshirt freshman, and Ohio State true freshman Jyaire Brown. Little known to the fans, they were quite known to their coaches and teammates, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said, recalling their efforts especially through the offseason and preseason camp. 

“We told them right before the game that everybody believes in them, and we do,” Day said.  “They had no fear and they went out there and played. They did a really good job.”

Whatever the game videos revealed of nerves or mistakes was beside the point, because Day said it wasn’t going to change his opinion of how the two handled the moment for Ohio State.

“I know they competed,” Day said. “And I thought (cornerbacks coach) Tim Walton did a really good job getting them ready. 

“And I’m proud of those guys to be able to win a conference game with them in there. … What a great start for them to build confidence moving forward.” 

Like Day, McCalister didn’t need to see replays to know what grades Jyaire Brown and Johnson deserved.

“Me, I’m going to give them an A, because you’re coming in filling some pretty big shoes in a pretty big game – the first Big Ten game, you know how serious the conference gets,” said McCalister, the transfer from Oklahoma State whose interception on Wisconsin’s first possession of the game helped set the blowout in motion.  “So to fill in the first conference game of the season, knowing we kind of wanted to make a statement, that can be nerve-wracking.

“I remember my first start” years ago at Oklahoma State, McCalister said. “That’s why I kind of told them before the game ‘You don’t have to do anything special, just do your jobs.’ I think they did that … so that’s why I give them an A.”

McCalister and fellow Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman especially were seen talking to Johnson and Brown often as the game progressed. The messages, McCalister said, were usually straightforward and businesslike.

“It was just making sure they know what their job is,” he said.

Interestingly, Wisconsin rarely tested the two, in essence, rookies, and McCalister was asked whether that was a little surprising.

“To be honest, maybe a little bit, just because if you see some new faces in there, why not?” he said. “I don’t really think that was in their gameplan, maybe. Maybe they didn’t expect Cam and Denzel not to play.  

“I think if they would have tried them the same result would have happened, just because they were both locked in, ready to go.”

Day saw the same demeanor from the two, which was why he became quite animated when Brown was called for pass interference on a play in which, one, the pass was uncatchable, and two, the contact was minimal at best.

“I wanted Jyaire to know, ‘I do have your back,’ “ Day said. “Now if it was egregious, OK, move on. But I wanted to defend him at that moment. This was a young kid out there on a big stage for the first time.” 

By the way, Day said Burke and Cameron Brown should be back sooner rather than later, perhaps even this week when Ohio State hosts Rutgers. But just like in the safety room, the cornerback room has developed proven depth one the past two weeks. Though that’s not necessarily the ideal way of doing it, in retrospect it’s a major bonus.