COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State brought in just two safeties in the 2024 class, the highest-rated of which is Jaylen McClain.

And the New Jersey-product might have a massive role with the Buckeyes sooner rather than later.

Ohio State has Ja’Had Cater, Lathan Ransom, Sonny Styles, Jayden Bonsu, Malik Hartford, Cedrick Hawkins and Leroy Roker also on the depth chart at the position. And after the 2024 season, Carter, Ransom and Styles might no longer be in the room.

Which means that McClain could be called upon to help bridge a gap at this point next year.

“Another guy that had a great year, his team had a great season, in a position of need,” coach Ryan Day said. “He’s a guy who was very productive in his high school career, certainly had a great senior year.”

McClain, the No. 269 prospect and No. 28 safety in the 2024 class, was rated as a four-star player from New Jersey. Paired with Roker, McClain was far and away the highest-rated safety in the class. But while his freshman year will likely be spent in a reserve role, with a likely redshirt year coming, the future for McClain could be bright.

Ohio State has not landed elite, highly rated players at safety like the rest of the defensive room has done. At cornerback and on the defensive line, the Buckeyes have brought in five-star players. That has left the future uncertain for who can take over.

At 6-feet and 185 pounds, McClain is a versatile player that can play well on the back-end in coverage — he played cornerback in high school. And, as many will note, he’s a more than willing tackler when it comes time to do so.

The safety room for Ohio State, unlike some other positions on the roster, is wildly uncertain for 2025 and beyond. Simply, there’s not a clear next-in-line safety tandem that would have been the case had Ohio State signed K.J. Bolden or Caleb Downs or Koi Perich.

And that’s where Ohio State hopes, and might need, McClain to step up.