Ohio State Buckeyes have yet another elite safety in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
The Ohio State Buckeyes had many of their star players from last year's team get drafted in the first round. Four players were drafted in the first 12 picks and eight total were picked in the first three rounds. One of those stars was safety Caleb Downs. He was a leader of the Buckeyes' defense during his entire tenure.
In a recent article, Phil Harrison believes the Buckeyes have a player who can fill the void Caleb Downs left. Here is what he highlighted about Earl Little Jr.:
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"Of the top ten, Cohen believes Florida State safety transfer Earl Little Jr. has what it takes to make a splash on the banks of the Olentangy.
"Having added just 32 transfers over the previous four offseasons combined — a reflection, in part, of the resources Ohio State poured into player retention — head coach Ryan Day added 17 new players to compile the sport’s seventh-best portal class overall, trailing only Penn State in the Big Ten," wrote Cohen. "At least five of those newcomers are expected to be plug-and-play starters for a defense that lost seven players to the NFL Draft following an incredible first season under coordinator Matt Patricia. No absence will loom larger than that of safety Caleb Downs, a two-time unanimous All-American and eventual first-round pick.
"Even though the Seminoles finished below .500 each of the last two years, Little blossomed into an effective Swiss Army Knife in the secondary. His snap count for 2026 was split between free safety (376), box safety (226), and slot corner (65), which makes Little a potential candidate to fill Downs’ roving role. Little did miss the tail end of spring practice while undergoing a minor knee procedure. "
It is rinse and repeat every year for the Buckeyes. There will always be another talented stud to step right in and not miss a beat. Earl Little Jr. will be a name for the Trojans to keep an eye out for prior to their game vs Ohio State.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: The Ohio State Buckeyes' secondary figures to be very strong once again this season. Jayden Maiava will face a tough challenge vs OSU