Better Know a Buckeye: Jordyn Woods’ 6-foot-4 Frame Gives Him Unique Size For a Cornerback

Jordyn Woods is the lowest-rated player in Ohio State's 26-player 2025 recruiting class, but he has size that not many cornerbacks have. His 6-foot-4 frame is not only unique for the position, but gives him a unique style of play that could pay dividends for the Buckeyes’ secondary down the road.

How He Became a Buckeye

Ohio State offered Woods late in the cycle as it looked to add another cornerback to the 2025 class. When he received his offer from the Buckeyes in late November 2024, Woods had been committed to Cincinnati since that June and held 11 Division I offers. He wasn't necessarily a contingency plan in case Na'eem Offrord flipped his commitment on National Signing Day, but rather a player Tim Walton and company coveted, even given the timing.

Less than a month after receiving his offer from the Buckeyes, Woods committed to Ohio State during his official visit, which took place during the Buckeyes’ game against Indiana last November.

Woods' commitment proved vital, as Offord flipped to Oregon on Signing Day, giving the Buckeyes just two cornerbacks in the 2025 class: Woods and Devin Sanchez.

High School Years

As a junior, Woods recorded 41 tackles as he began to make a name for himself as a shutdown, lockdown cornerback. In senior season for Cartersville High School (Cartersville, Georgia), Woods recorded 41 tackles again with three tackles for loss, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He was a first-team All-Region 7-AAAA selection.

Carterville went 25-2 (11-0 in the conference) in the two seasons that Woods was a full-time starter. 

Throughout his high school career, Woods showcased his physicality by jamming opposing receivers at the line, his speed to keep up with them, and his IQ and nose for the ball to bring down opposing ballcarriers, whether it was lining up in the box and tackling them in the backfield or on the outside.

Immediate Impact

At 6-foot-4, Woods is by far the tallest cornerback at Ohio State, two inches taller than the next-tallest at the position, Sanchez and Davison Igbinosun. That said, while his height certainly stands out at the position, Woods will likely need multiple years of development in the Buckeyes' system before he will contribute on the defensive side of the ball in Columbus.

Woods has plenty of raw talent and potential, but is also in arguably the best cornerback room in the country. With Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. set to start on the outside and Sanchez and Aaron Scott Jr. expected to be their top backups this season, Woods’ only path to significant playing time as a freshman will be on special teams.

Long-Term Impact

With as much young talent as Ohio State has stockpiled at the cornerback position, Woods will have to prove he’s better than his recruiting ranking to get on the field consistently in Tim Walton’s secondary. He’ll have to both add bulk to his 6-foot-4 frame and hone his technique to earn a bigger role in Ohio State’s defense.

That said, his height could make him a significant asset to Ohio State’s defense in the future with his ability to match up with taller wide receivers, especially in the red zone.

Player Comparison: Ryan Watts

The former four-star recruit played sparingly in his first two seasons at Ohio State, totaling 11 tackles and two interceptions in two years in Columbus before transferring to Texas. Even in a limited time in Columbus as an underclassman, Watts showcased his ability to be a playmaker as a 6-foot-3 cornerback. He went on to become a two-year starter for the Longhorns and was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft, though his pro career was cut short by a neck injury. 

While we're not saying that Woods will transfer with this comparison, he could have a similar career trajectory. He likely won’t play much in his first couple of seasons as a Buckeye, but has the tools to develop into an NFL-caliber cornerback under Walton’s guidance if he stays the course.