Better Know a Buckeye: Leroy Roker’s Athleticism and Playmaking Ability Gives Him Potential to Become Game-Changing Deep Safety As An Upperclassman

Making a name for himself (and getting noticed by Ohio State) during his senior season, Leroy Roker (No. 88 safety, No. 836 overall) was one of two commitments from Florida in Ohio State's 2024 recruiting class, joining wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Having one of the quietest yet fastest-developing recruitments in the cycle, he climbed more than 400 spots in 247Sports' composite rankings from when he was offered by the Buckeyes to when the safety signed with Ohio State.

How He Became a Buckeye

A late-bloomer in the 2024 class, Ohio State gave Roker an offer on Oct. 3, 2023, after the Buckeyes decided to expand their board to try and add a second safety to their class alongside Jaylen McClain. The OSU offer came one day prior to an offer from Miami and was one of five Division I offers for Roker along with Iowa, Old Dominion and South Dakota.

He didn't waste any time after receiving that OSU offer. Roker took an official visit on Oct. 7 and committed to the Buckeyes a few days later.

High School Years

Roker spent his first three years of high school at the Canterbury School in Fort Myers before transferring to Bishop Verot prior to his senior season, a move that paid major dividends for the safety on the gridiron.

Roker played in all three phases of the game for Bishop Verot as a safety on defense, a running back and wide receiver on offense and as a playmaker on special teams, where he was both a kickoff returner and as a gunner on the kickoff unit.

8:59 2Q: @BishopVerotFB 12, @FBA_Athletics_ 8

Leroy Roker breaks one, taking this to the house from 89 yards out.

The Verot offense has arrived.@nphssports @NDN_PrepZone pic.twitter.com/lhWFpjIkAI

— Alex Martin (@NP_AlexMartin) September 15, 2023

He accumulated nearly 600 all-purpose yards for Bishop Verot, but it was on the defensive side of the ball where Roker made a name for himself. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound safety recorded seven interceptions and 54 tackles (one for loss), two fumble recoveries and seven pass breakups in 12 games as a senior. While he typically lined up 20-25 yards downfield as the deep safety, Roker continually showcased his ball-hawking ability, speed, and prowess as a tackler in the open field. The safety was also able to show off his instincts with pre- and post-snap reads to take the best angle at ball carriers and open receivers.

At the 8:34 mark in the first quarter, Ohio State commit Leroy Roker grabs another interception on an underthrown ball by Devin Mignery. pic.twitter.com/LvdhrI8pOs

— Alex Martin (@NP_AlexMartin) October 20, 2023

Roker showed off his athleticism on the basketball court as well, averaging 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game during his junior season and notching more than 1,000 points in varsity competition. He also competed in track and field, running a personal-best time of 51.85 seconds in the 400-meter dash as a senior.

Immediate Impact

Given his need to add weight and that he didn't arrive in Columbus until the summer, Roker is likely to redshirt as a freshman. Although Ohio State needed to add depth at the position in the form of South Carolina transfer Keenan Nelson Jr. this summer, the three-deep is likely to be composed of Caleb Downs, Lathan Ransom, Malik Hartford, Nelson, Jayden Bonsu and McClain.

Roker’s athleticism could give him a path to the field as a freshman on special teams, but 2024 will be a developmental year for him on defense.

Long-Term Impact

With Ransom entering his final season of eligibility, there will be a competition to start alongside Downs at safety in 2025. While Hartford will likely be the favorite to start in that battle, Roker should at least have the opportunity to compete for a spot on the three-deep with the potential to push for a spot on the two-deep if he develops quickly.

Roker’s experience on special teams should give him a path to becoming a key contributor in that phase of the game by year two, which could be the first step toward earning significant playing time at safety as an upperclassman.

With the safety talent that Matt Guerrieri, Tim Walton and company will continue to bring in on the recruiting trail, Roker will have to prove himself to his coaches on and off the field to become a future starter for the Buckeyes. But he has the upside to be a game-changing playmaker as a deep safety with his length, speed and ball skills, even if his recruiting ranking doesn’t reflect that.

Player Comparison: Nate Oliver

After redshirting in 2007, Oliver was a major contributor on special teams during his second season as a Buckeye, totaling eight tackles. Over the next three seasons, Oliver saw an increase in playing time as a backup safety while continuing to excel on special teams, playing 35 games in all as a Buckeye

While Roker has a better shot of playing an increased role at safety, becoming a difference-maker on special teams like Oliver will be the first step toward a productive Ohio State career for the three-star recruit.