Ohio State added another defensive back to its 2024 class on Wednesday, securing a pledge from Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot three-star safety Leroy Roker (6-1, 170).
Roker is not considered one of the premier prospects in the class, ranking as just the nation’s 1,285th-best prospect along with the 121st safety and 173rd overall player in Florida, but he quickly piqued the interest of safeties coach Perry Eliano and Ohio State this fall. He earned an offer from the Buckeyes on Oct. 3, and took an official visit to campus four days later to attend Saturday’s game against Maryland. Ohio State was just the fifth school to express interest in him, with just Iowa, Miami, Old Dominion and FCS-level South Dakota extending him offers prior to the Buckeyes.
“Coach Eliano offered me,” Roker told 247Sports. “I was shocked, but I greatly appreciated the offer. Just that Coach Eliano took the time to come out and look at me. He came out last week and watched me at practice.
Roker, who also plays basketball — averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game his junior season — along with track and field, is known for his speed and physicality at the safety position. He has also spent some time on offense at Bishop Verot this season, lining up at running back and wide receiver.
With the commitment of the three-star Roker, Ohio State has now signed three safeties to its 2024 class, joining Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut four-star Garrett Stover (6-0, 195) and West Orange (N.J.) Seton Hall Prep three-star Jaylen McClain (6-0, 185), who also visited Columbus for the Maryland game. Roker also marks Ohio State’s 23rd commitment for 2024, a class that currently ranks No. 2 in the country behind only Georgia.
