Signed: Late bloomer safety Leroy Roker honors verbal commitment, preparing for Ohio State
The Early-Signing Period is here and Ohio State is set to once again bring in one of the country’s best recruiting classes. Lettermen Row is tracking the Buckeyes recruiting news throughout the signing period as 2024 commitments officially join the Ohio State football program. The latest Letter of Intent is in: Leroy Roker has signed with the Buckeyes.
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has worked hard to rebuild its defense back to the standard it should be at.
It started with the front seven and earning back the name Silver Bullets. But the secondary had lost its moniker “BIA” – Best in America.
Leroy Roker saw the vision from the Buckeyes’ recruiting pitch and knew that he had to be part of that continuing rebuild and maintain the standard.
Even though he only committed in October, Roker knows the standard that is being a Buckeye. That was made evident Wednesday when he signed his letter of intent. But what does it mean for Ohio State moving forward?
Lettermen Row breaks it down.
Who is Leroy Roker?
Leroy Roker is a three-star safety from Fort Myers, Florida, and played at Bishop Verot.
He mainly focused on basketball, but when it was clear he had a future at the Power 5 level for football, he shifted gears. Iowa was in the mix for Roker, but the Buckeyes put the pedal to the metal and landed the length safety.
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 956 overall, No. 99 SAF, No. 132 Fla
On3 Ranking: UR overall, No. 41 SAF, No. 61 Fla
Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida
High School: Bishop Verot High School
How did Roker end up at Ohio State?
Ohio State scouted the country hard, turning over every senior tape it could find to land another safety.
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And then the Buckeyes found Roker. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect from Florida is a turnover machine with near-double-digit interceptions in his senior season.
He made his debut trip, an official visit, for the Maryland game. He left a Buckeye.
“When I realized I was offered I was so excited considering that I could be playing for a top-ranked school in the country and be developed into a great player,” Roker told Lettermen Row.
From there they planned out his official visit for the Maryland game. That entire weekend really showed Roker that the program in Columbus was the place for him.
“The environment, culture, and tradition they have going on, it made me feel like I was home,” Roker said. “It went great meeting with the coaches we had good talks and laughs and the game was even better watching those safeties do their thing.”
