Closer Look: Garrett Stover Brings Safety Speed To Linebacker

Garrett Stover was a First-Team All-State linebacker as a junior and senior at Big Walnut High School in Sunbury, Ohio. Last year as a senior he posted 89 tackles, three tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. As a junior in 2022, Stover totaled 92 tackles and 12 tackles for loss while missing three games due to injury.

Stover was a four-star prospect who was ranked the No. 10 linebacker in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 142 player overall. He was the No. 7 player in the state of Ohio per the 247Sports Composite. Stover signed with the Buckeyes over offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Florida, Kentucky, and others. He is the cousin of former Ohio State tight end Cade Stover.

What To Like

Garrett Stover (6-1 220) spent his first two years of high school ball playing safety before moving to linebacker as a junior. He played both positions as a senior. His experience at safety has given him a fuller view of playing defense. Whether it was at safety or linebacker, Stover has shown the ability to cover a lot of ground very quickly.

Stover has good speed at linebacker and has coverage skills. There are clips below of him playing safety at 12 yards off the line of scrimmage and meeting a running back at the line of scrimmage. He gets downhill quickly but is also skilled at going sideline to sideline.

Garrett Stover has experience covering a ton of ground in a short amount of time. pic.twitter.com/J7nyg9tjmZ
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 30, 2024

The Potential

Garrett Stover will continue to get bigger and stronger. The speed will remain. He will continue to grow as a more patient linebacker as well. Stover projects as a Will linebacker who can play all three downs because of his athleticism and mobility in coverage.

Stover’s quickness and speed can get him to spots quickly and his ability to change directions and angles can help him keep up with ball carriers and avoid blockers. He is a solid tackler who can also be used to blitz when he stays under control. Stover can stay with running backs in pass coverage as well.

Garrett Stover played both linebacker and safety in high school. He stopped the run wherever he lined up. pic.twitter.com/pyI5u4beB0
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 30, 2024

The Expectations

Garrett Stover was one of the many early enrollees for the Buckeyes this past January. That gives him a head start as a true freshman but doesn’t necessarily guarantee any playing time this year. As Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said about the possibility of playing time for Stover and fellow freshman linebacker Payton Pierce last week at Big Ten Media Days, “we’ll see.”

The Buckeyes have two veterans in Sonny Styles and CJ Hicks ahead of Stover, but overall it’s not a very deep group. Will defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and linebackers coach James Laurinaitis want either Styles or Hicks playing in the fourth quarter of blowouts? That may not be more than a handful of games, but Stover should get some opportunities there. Special teams are also a possibility on a more regular basis.

Here's a look at freshman LB Garrett Stover's snaps in the Ohio State spring game. pic.twitter.com/xFd2aFnVxd
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 30, 2024

The Bottom Line

In this current era of offensive football, it is good to have a linebacker like Garrett Stover that can run. He has experience defending the pass in both man and zone situations, but he’s also comfortable playing at the point of attack in short-yardage situations.

Stover shouldn’t be rushed into anything immediately, which means he will have time to grow and be better prepared once he is finally called upon.

Some clips of Garrett Stover against the pass and on special teams. He can blow up screens and kicks. pic.twitter.com/KulCOgLL0X
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) July 30, 2024

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