Ohio State got the result it wanted against Illinois, but the afternoon wasn’t without its complications. In the third quarter, true freshman nickelback Jay Timmons went down with an apparent hamstring injury, leaving the Buckeyes without one of their defensive contributors.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
His recovery timeline remains unclear, and with questions mounting over his availability, Ryan Day has finally shed light on the potential replacements.
“We’ll see how this week goes,” Ryan Day said Tuesday when asked about Timmons’ status for Saturday’s game. However, should the freshman remain sidelined beyond this week, Day has two potential replacements in mind: Jermaine Mathews Jr. and fellow freshman cornerback Jordan Thomas.
In the third quarter, Timmons blitzed off the edge and nearly brought down Illinois QB Katin Houser. However, after failing to complete the tackle, he went to ground and immediately grabbed his hamstring. Trainers helped him to the medical tent before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Replacing him would be a huge task for the Buckeyes, as Timmons has quickly established himself as a key figure in their defence, recording nine tackles, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss across Ohio State’s opening four games, but his replacements are not some rookies.
After Jay Timmons left the Illinois game in the third quarter with an apparent hamstring injury, Jermaine Mathews Jr. moved into the slot. Mathews finished the game with seven tackles and two pass breakups.
He also impressed against Texas, recording five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss against the Longhorns. Additionally, as a member of Ohio State’s 2024 national championship-winning team, he brings valuable experience to the secondary.
Meanwhile, freshman cornerback Jordan Thomas has recorded four tackles through Ohio State’s first four games. A four-star recruit with 148 tackles and eight interceptions in high school, Thomas offers another option in the secondary, though he has less college experience than Mathews.
With Timmons’ availability for Saturday’s game against Iowa still uncertain, Ohio State may need Mathews or Thomas to fill in at nickelback as the defence looks to tighten up after allowing 462 yards against Illinois.
On Saturday, Illinois gained 462 yards against the Buckeyes, the most Ohio State has allowed since Oregon gained 496 yards in a 32–31 win over the Buckeyes in October 2024. The setback also snapped a remarkable 27-game streak of holding opponents below 400 yards. Ohio State led the nation in both scoring and total defense over the past two seasons.
Ohio State ramped up its pass rush against Illinois, recording a season-high three sacks. However, the aggressive approach left openings for Katin Houser to exploit, allowing the Fighting Illini to produce 15 plays of 10-plus yards, including eight gains of 20-plus yards.
“There was too many big plays today,” Day said. “We brought a little more pressure, played a little more man-to-man, and some of those balls squirted out and created explosive plays. So we gotta get on the film and make the corrections.”
With eight defensive starters gone, this season has been more about rebuilding than maintaining consistency for Ohio State. Now, with the Iowa Hawkeyes up next, the Buckeyes must get their adjustments right, or they risk facing even tougher challenges down the road.