Jermaine Mathews Jr. CB Ohio State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #7 ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.38 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 03/28/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #7 | |
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.38 seconds (88%*) | |
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 03/28/2005 | |
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| Overall Rating: |
81.0 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 76.3 | |
| Tackling: |
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71% |
| Run Defense: |
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69% |
| Coverage: |
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66% |
| Zone: |
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64% |
| Man/Press: |
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68% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#159
Position rank:
#34 (DB)
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| College Games: 35 College Snaps: 1213 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Myles Harden - South Dakota |
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94% |
| M.J. Devonshire - Pittsburgh |
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87% |
| Jakorian Bennett - Maryland |
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86% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jermaine Mathews Jr. didn't start varsity football until his junior year at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati, but quickly made up for lost time. His breakout junior season helped deliver a Division II state championship with 40 tackles and five interceptions in a 12-1 campaign. Senior year brought even bigger numbers: 51 tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and six interceptions with three returned for touchdowns. Those performances earned him Ohio Division II Defensive Player of the Year recognition and 45 college offers.Mathews signed with Ohio State as a four-star recruit ranked 135th nationally in the 2023 class. His freshman season included a highlight-reel 58-yard pick-six against Western Kentucky, while 2024 saw him transition from backup to key contributor. The national championship run showcased his development, with 22 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss across 21 games played.
Now in his third season, Mathews has accumulated 35 career tackles and three pass breakups while playing 518 total snaps. His versatility has shown through rotations at outside corner, slot coverage, and even safety packages. The former Ohio prep standout brings championship experience from both high school and college levels, with coaches praising his football intelligence and competitive nature in pressure situations.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Fast feet to carry vertical routes on the boundary
- Forced takeaways against Texas and Indiana in big spots
- Logged 799 snaps as a full-season starter on a top defense
- Closes passing windows with burst on throws underneath
- Supports the run, finishing tackles near the line
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Modest in coverage, with reps left in man
- Surrendered catches at a high rate on heavy target volume
- Drew five penalties grabbing at the route stem
- Man-cover technique trails the athletic tools at the route stem
- Splash plays are solid rather than special for the snaps
Scouting Report: Summary
Mathews is a fast, experienced boundary corner who logged 799 snaps as a full-season starter on one of the nation's top defenses, taking the ball away against Texas in the opener and Indiana late. He carries vertical routes, drives on throws to close windows, and competes in run support near the line. The timed speed and the starting experience against top competition give him a projectable outside trait base and a track record against quality receivers.The coverage detail is the work in progress. His coverage is modest; he surrendered catches at a high rate on heavy target volume, and he drew five penalties grabbing at the route stem when his recovery ran late. His man coverage trails the athletic tools, and his ball production is solid rather than special for the snaps. He is a tools-and-experience corner whose technique has to catch up to the speed.
The wager is the speed and the experience, a developmental outside corner with starter upside if the man technique and the penalties tighten. The athletic ceiling and the snaps against top competition are encouraging. He grades on Day 3 as a trait-based cover corner returning for a season that could push the grade higher if the coverage catches the tools and the penalties clean up.
How other scouting services rate Jermaine Mathews Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
143.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
28.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.