2024 Freshman Class Report: Safety Leroy Roker

This is the seventh installment in a series where Buckeye Huddle looks back on each member of Ohio State’s 2024 signing class and the impact they had in their first season, as well as the impact they could have during the upcoming 2025 season. Up next is safety Leroy Roker.

Safety Leroy Roker transferred to Bishop Verot High School for his senior year where he posted 54 tackles and seven interceptions in 2023. He played both offense and defense throughout his high school career. He also competed in basketball, where he was a career 16-point-per-game scorer.

Roker was ranked the No. 88 safety in the 2024 recruiting class and the No. 836 player overall. Ohio State offered him in October of his senior year. Miami followed with an offer the very next day. He signed with the Buckeyes over other top suitors Miami and Iowa.

2024 Season

Leroy Roker didn’t enroll until June of last year, which always makes it difficult for a true freshman to gain good ground. He played in just two games last year — both on special teams. He did not record a statistic. Roker was one of two safeties signed by the Buckeyes last year. The other was Jaylen McClain, who enrolled in the winter and took advantage of it.

So Now What For Leroy Roker?

Leroy Roker will work on finding a job on special teams this season. Once that happens, he’ll be able to show his reliability in actual games, which could lead to more playing time on defense. His athleticism isn’t a question. He just needs some experience.

The Buckeyes have lost starting strong safety Lathan Ransom from last season, but everybody else who played deep safety last year returns this year. Roker could end up at either free safety or strong safety this year, though it will be difficult for him to break into the two-deep at either spot.

At strong safety, Ohio State is likely looking at Jaylen McClain and fourth-year junior Keenan Nelson at strong safety. Juniors Caleb Downs and Malik Hartford both return at free safety. Currently, those are Ohio State’s top four safeties.

The Buckeyes have added three freshmen safeties into the picture as well. Among those freshmen is Faheem Delane, who was one of the top safeties in the 2025 recruiting class. It would not be a surprise to see him move into that top four group of safeties this season.

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