Motivated Jerron Cage can be playmaker for Buckeyes defensive line
COLUMBUS — Jerron Cage has a unique source of motivation at Ohio State.
After years of waiting his turn, battling through practices but not finding his way onto the field, Cage had an opportunity last season. And it was on the biggest stage.
Cage began to see the field during the Buckeyes regular season. But once they reached the national title game to face Alabama, Cage’s role expanded — by a lot. Tommy Togiai missed the game with COVID-19, and Cage stepped in to replace him.
It was a special moment for the Ohio native, and it’s a moment he has been building toward during his career. He started in the title game and played meaningful defensive snaps. And it wasn’t a moment he reached just for himself.
“The excitement of being able to just show what I’ve got,” Cage said. “I feel like that whole situation was emotional for me. Just going through what I’ve been through with, I had to sacrifice so much during the timeframe of the pandemic because my son was just born. I can’t even see him.
“The fact that I just had all my brothers around me, I just did it for them and I did it for my son. They understood that and it helped me out tremendously.”
Now with a performance on the sport’s biggest stage in his rearview, Cage is continuing to use his teammates and his son as motivation as he attempts to springboard into a much bigger role this fall for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State defensive tackle Jerron Cage is fighting for playing time. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
And with Togiai off to the NFL, the defensive line unit is searching for its next nose tackle. Cage fits the bill, and after waiting years for his turn, the fall could finally present a chance.
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“We like a bigger guy, but I’ll take quickness over big to make sure we can make a difference at the line of scrimmage,” legendary defensive line coach Larry Johnson said during spring camp. “We want to knock the line of scrimmage back, that’s what we ask our nose tackle to do. Create a new line of scrimmage and make the ball bounce. I’m really happy with our guys on the inside and how hard they’re working to make a difference.â€
Cage has the size and experience to help the Buckeyes. But can he make a push for the starting spot? He’ll have to outperform the favorite, Taron Vincent, and fellow veteran Antwuan Jackson along with other talented players who have been waiting for their chance to finally break out.
That’s a far cry from various points in his four seasons at Ohio State, when he debated on whether he could ever find time on the field for the Buckeyes.
“That’s anyone in my situation,” Cage said. “You see all these guys leaving and you’re like: ‘OK, it’s time, it’s time, it’s time.’ But you just don’t see it yet. But you know, if you wait, God always has a plan for you. So I just stuck in there, stayed strong.
“Now I’m reaping the benefits of it.”
He certainly has plenty to play for. And with one more season at Ohio State, Jerron Cage is hoping to make the moment of playing meaningful time in the national title game the start of a special year to come.
