Through Offseason Discipline and Camp Performance, Freshman Safety Jaylen McClain is Climbing Ohio State's Depth Chart
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Andy Anders on August 22, 2024 at 10:10 am
@andyanders55
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Two chicken breasts and a bowl of rice explain why Jaylen McClain has seen a fast rise as a freshman in Ohio State’s safety room.
Every morning before spring practice, he’d be in the office of safeties coach Matt Guerrieri eating a nontraditional breakfast arrangement of the three items, building both his body and his craft.
“He doesn't act like a freshman,” Guerrieri said. “What I mean by that is, we talk about routine a lot. He’s a guy who wanted to gain a little bit of weight in the spring, so he would be in my office at, I don't know, I'd say probably no later than 5:30 in the morning in the offseason, eating two chicken breasts and a bowl of rice. He doesn't love breakfast food, so that was his, ‘Hey I'm going to make sure I'm eating breakfast.’ It was prepared by the nutritionist every morning.
“But literally 5:30 to 5:45 he was doing that every morning. So that's an example of just a maturity level and a seriousness about what he wants to get done here.”
McClain wasn’t the most heralded prospect from Ohio State’s 2024 recruiting class, certainly not attaining anything resembling the volcano of hype erupting around Jeremiah Smith. But he’s already seemed to surpass older players on the team’s safety depth chart as the team tries to establish depth at the position behind Caleb Downs and Lathan Ransom.
“McClain has really emerged as a guy who’s gonna have to be ready to play,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “You’ve got two guys that are unproven and still learning and every day in practice is a learning experience for them and a challenge, particularly if they get to go against our best receivers. Our safety depth needs to come along.”
From his offseason meal dedication to on-field gains made in spring practice and fall camp, Jaylen McClain has risen on Ohio State's safety depth chart through discipline and playmaking.
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