Ohio State's defense is in good hands with the emergence of Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore, and Jaylen McClain. These three players are stepping up to fill the massive shoes left behind by Caleb Downs, and they're doing it with style. But who will come out on top in the battle for starting spots? And can McClain live up to the hype as the new superstar safety? Let's take a closer look at the safety position and explore the possibilities for the upcoming season.
Earl Little Jr.: A Rapid Rise
Earl Little Jr. is a fifth-year senior safety who transferred to Ohio State from Florida State. After just five practices, he lost his black stripe, tying with LSU transfer wide receiver Kyle Parker for the fastest black stripe removal this year. This is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it's clear that he's already making an impact on the team. Little's ability to play multiple positions in the secondary, including nickel, free, and strong safety, makes him a versatile asset for the Buckeyes. His speed, twitchiness, and communication skills are impressive, and he's already earning high praise from his peers and coaches.
Terry Moore: A Quiet Start, A Loud End
Terry Moore, a second-team All-ACC safety at Duke, began the spring with the second-team defense. However, by the final week, he became a fixture with the first-team defense and earned the starting nod for the spring game. Moore's quiet start is likely due to his missing the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL. But he's not one to be counted out, as he was graded by Pro Football Focus as the second-best safety in all of college football in 2024. Moore's transfer to Ohio State was not just to be a backup, and his potential to start in the fall is high, even with the emergence of Leroy Roker III.
Leroy Roker III: A Hidden Gem
Leroy Roker III, a redshirt sophomore safety, took most of the first-team reps early on in the spring, and he shouldn't be counted out in the competition for a starting job. Ohio State has always valued him more than his three-star recruiting rating, and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri had high praise for him this spring. Roker's development over the last couple of years has been impressive, and he has all the skills to be a very good safety. Even if he doesn't win a starting job, he will be a candidate to see at least some playing time on defense, such as in dime packages.
Jaylen McClain: The New Linchpin
Jaylen McClain, a quiet star of Ohio State's defense last season, is now being thrust into a much bigger spotlight. He'll be tasked with taking over some of Caleb Downs' responsibilities in terms of communication and coverage on the back end of the defense. McClain's ability to be the linchpin of Ohio State's 2026 secondary will be a major factor in whether the Buckeyes' defense remains elite. While no one is expecting him to singlehandedly replace Downs, McClain is the Buckeyes' new leader at the safety position.
Projected Depth Chart
Free Safety:
1. Terry Moore
2. Leroy Roker III
3. Khmari Bing
4. Brenton "Inky" Jones
Strong Safety:
1. Jaylen McClain
2. Blaine Bradford
3. Simeon Caldwell
4. Kaden Gebhardt
Nickel:
1. Earl Little Jr.
2. Jay Timmons
3. Miles Lockhart
4. Deshawn Stewart
Post-Spring Outlook
Even without Downs, Ohio State's safety unit could be one of the best in the country this season. Assuming McClain builds off his excellent first season as a starter, Little builds upon his strong start to his Buckeye career, and Moore returns to his pre-injury form, all three of Ohio State's projected starting safeties have All-Big Ten potential and should complement each other well on the back end of the defense. Roker also appears ready to be a starting-caliber safety, giving the Buckeyes a strong depth option off the bench. While the depth behind Roker is a bit more suspect, there's plenty of young talent with potential in the four-man freshman class of Bradford, Caldwell, Bing, and Gebhardt.
The Takeaway
Ohio State's safety unit is in good hands with the emergence of Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore, and Jaylen McClain. These three players are stepping up to fill the massive shoes left behind by Caleb Downs, and they're doing it with style. The battle for starting spots is heating up, and the depth chart is looking strong. With these players leading the way, Ohio State's defense is poised to be one of the best in the country this season.
