5. OHIO STATE
Aaron Scott (Karyna Aguilar/Rivals.com)
From the outset of the 2024 cycle,
Ohio State’s secondary plan began with landing elite in-state targets
Aaron Scott and
Bryce West, and the Buckeyes accomplished that early on, never looking back. Each is big, battle-tested and productive against the type of 50-50 plays that make or break red zone and/or move-the-chain moments against marquee opponents. With the cornerback duo solidified, it sought out depth in Arizona native
Miles Lockhart to combine with safety projections
Leroy Roker and
Jaylen McClain. Roker is the late-bloomer of the bunch, coming up as a basketball prospect as an underclassman, so he could be the addition we look back on years down the line having missed on projecting his ceiling in Columbus.