Although he has been a part of the Ohio State football program for just seven months, transfer cornerback Davison Igbinosun has already established lofty goals for his Buckeye tenure.
Speaking in front of the media after practice on Thursday, the former Ole Miss Rebel said he wants to help return the Ohio State secondary to its once-dominant form — an aspiration that played a large factor in his decision to play for the Buckeyes.
“I thought about BIA, best in America,” Igbinosun said. “I thought about all the top guys. (Jeff) Okudah, Malcolm Jenkins. I just thought about getting it back to the standard.”
As he wraps up his first week of fall camp, the new Ohio State cornerback has looked to take strides towards achieving that goal, flashing his unique length and football knowledge to help elevate the Buckeyes’ crowded defensive back room.
“He’s teaching me a lot of stuff,” junior cornerback Jordan Hancock said. “He moves like a vet. He doesn’t play around at all. He comes in here working. So that really does push me. We feed off each other’s energy.”
While Igbinosun is already working to raise the level of play in Ohio State’s secondary, he admitted that he struggled to understand the complexities of the Jim Knowles-led 4-2-5 defense during his first few months as a Buckeye.
“You have to learn the scheme all over again,” Igbinosun said. “When I got here in the spring, on the field, I was asking Sonny (Styles), ‘Tell me everything I need to know about this play,’ because I was confused. But now I have an understanding of the defense as a whole.”
The Union, New Jersey native said it especially took some time to comprehend the defense’s frequent use of pre-snap “checks,” where the secondary changes their coverage before the play based on how the offense is lined up. This was something he noted he did not have to deal with while at Ole Miss last season.
According to Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Walton, however, Igbinosun has gained a better grasp of the system over time. This has allowed his best traits to shine through during practice, most notably the elite knowledge of football he possesses given his young age.
“He has some football IQ,” Walton said. “He has some instincts. He’s played the game. So he understands what it is to play high-level football. So he can process it. It was just learning the new terminology, learning the new verbiage, learning where he fits on certain plays. Now, (with) the spring and summer under his belt, and (the) first week of camp, now that’s all coming together for him. We like where he is at (during) this point.”
The former SEC cornerback has also displayed his best traits on the field, most notably his unique length and athleticism. Standing at 6-foot-2, Igbinosun has shown these qualities while lining up at outside corner against wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., a matchup that he says he has been able to hold his own.
“I can check (Harrison Jr),” Igbinosun said. “He’s the best player in the country, but me and him go at it…I feel like going against him makes (going against) everybody else easier.”
Aside from the matchups with Harrison Jr., Igbinosun is also battling with his teammates on the defensive side, where he is vying for considerable playing time in a deep Ohio State cornerback room. Practicing alongside projected starting cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, as well as sophomore Jyaire Brown and true freshman Jermaine Matthews Jr, among others, Igbinosun said the competition within the secondary will bring out the best in him and his teammates as they prepare for the 2023 season.
“Competition breeds greatness,” Igbinosun said. “I know the best players are going to be on the field. I’m just ready to compete, I’m just embracing the competition.”
