Ohio State commits Jermaine Mathews, Garrett Stover earn All-State nods
COLUMBUS — Despite the recent popular belief, Ohio State certainly recruits within the Buckeye State.
And two of those in-state commits just received major honors for their play this fall.
2023 four-star Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. earned the Division II Defensive Player of the Year award Wednesday. Mathews also earned First-Team All-State defensive honors.
2024 four-star Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut linebacker Garrett Stover earned First-Team, All-State defensive honors.
Mathews wasn’t the only future Buckeye to earn the defensive player of the year nod. 2023 four-star Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville linebacker Arvell Reese earned the same honor for Division IV teams.
Mathews incredible senior season
Jermaine Mathews had one of the best senior seasons — if not the best season — among the Ohio State 2023 commits.
He led Winton Woods to a 12-1 record, a conference championship and two playoff wins.
Matthews is No. 2 rated cornerback and the No. 35 overall prospect according to On3.
Mathews has garnered the attention of Miami and Michigan lately with offers, but he’s locked in with Ohio State. He recently spoke with Lettermen Row about what he’s looking forward to about enrolling early and what his expectations are in his time with the Buckeyes.
“I think the biggest leap for me is just my understanding of the game,” Mathews said. “It’s more than just understanding the angles and different cuts. There are things to know that make you more successful at the next level.”
“I think we can be one of the best classes,” Mathews said. “The main goal is beating the team up north every year, and then winning the Big Ten championship and the national championship.”
Stover heading
Garrett Stover is the latest prospect to commit to Ohio State regardless of class.
He’s one of the most important in-state targets for the Buckeyes given his proximity to campus and the connection he has to Ohio State.
But he wasn’t offered just because of his last name.
Stover has great physicality and speed that gives him range as a linebacker but also as a strong-side safety.
The country’s No. 12 linebacker and No. 115 overall prospect — according to On3 — ended his season in the third round of the playoffs and is recovering from shoulder surgery.
