The Ohio State football program already upgraded at the safety spot over the offseason. They added Caleb Downs from Alabama a year after he was a Freshman All-American. He is slated to start right next to Lathan Ransom as perhaps the best safety duo in the country. The secondary for the Buckeyes is projected to be outstanding.
While the safety position is already stacked, the Buckeyes are trying to make it even better. Despite not having added any player from the Spring transfer window yet, they are in contact with people. In fact, they are in contact with the number-one safety available in the transfer portal right now.
The Ohio State football program is trying to add more safety talent
Former Texas A&M safety Jacoby Mathews has already heard from 12 schools. The top ones are Oregon, Florida State, Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State. Mathews is a former five-star recruit who has spent the last two seasons with the Aggies. He accumulated 67 tackles and a pick over those two seasons in College Station.
I am surprised that the Buckeyes have reached out to Mathews. He obviously wouldn’t start this season but he could in 2025 if he chose the Buckeyes. He also would rotate in with Lathan Ransom. Ransom also doesn’t exactly have the greatest history of staying healthy, so adding Mathews would be great insurance for him.
Now that Mathews is in the transfer portal, he doesn’t have to make a decision at any specific time. My guess is that he wants to figure something out soon though. The sooner he gets enrolled somewhere, the better for him. He can start learning the playbook and figure out exactly where he stands in the depth chart.
While Ryan Day hasn’t indicated he’s ready to add anyone from the portal yet, he’s clearly not opposed to it. We’ll see what they decide to do in the coming weeks.
More must-reads: