Ohio State Buckeyes secondary headline nation's most talented defense for 2024 college football season as fall camp kicks off

After finishing second in the nation in scoring defense, the Ohio State Buckeyes were able to add even more talent for 2024. One reason is they brought back four key starters in the secondary and then added the nation's best transfer portal star, Caleb Downs.

The Buckeyes' secondary talent headlines a deeply gifted group, including several names who will hear their names called early in the 2025 and 2026 NFL Draft. Between transfer additions and the emergence of budding stars, we're diving into what we expect out of the Buckeyes' secondary.

Ohio State Secondary Fall Camp Preview

Projected Starting Secondary

• CB Denzel Burke
• CB Davison Igbinosun
• SCB Jordan Hancock
• FS Caleb Downs
• SS Lathan Ransom

This starting group has an insane amount of talent, athleticism, upside, and production. Downs is the youngest but arguably the most gifted of the bunch. Last year, he totaled 107 tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups at Alabama. He's replacing senior Josh Proctor.

Burke is one of the best ballhawks in the nation, and Hancock might have been a first-round slot corner in the last NFL draft. Igbinosun was third in tackles on the team last year, and Ransom is a budding star in his own right.

The versatility within the group is remarkable. Each top cornerback is at least six feet tall, boasts fast feet, and is a physical tackler. Hancock would surely be a CB1 on most other rosters, but he plays a role on Jim Knowles' defense instead.

Projected Backup Secondary

• CB Jermaine Mathrews Jr.
• CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt
• CB Aaron Scott Jr.
• CB Bryce West
• SAF Malik Hartford
• SAF Keenan Nelson Jr.

There's a lot of uncertainty about the backups within the secondary, but only because it's a young unit. True freshmen Aaron Scott Jr., Jaylen McClain, Bryce West, and Miles Lockhart will surely see some time on the field within the first month of action before hitting the Big Ten schedule. But it's impossible to know which will prevail as realistic depth options if needed.

That leaves returning bodies and the transfer addition of Keenan Nelson Jr. (South Carolina) as more likely contributors. Sophomore Jermaine Mathews Jr. was on the field a bit last year and profiles as a starter in 2025. Calvin Simpson-Hunt and Lorenzo Styles Jr. lack experience.

The latter is a former transfer from Notre Dame who played receiver before moving to cornerback.

Overall Secondary Outlook

This will be a dominant secondary in 2024. The Buckeyes have retained and then improved what was an incredible collection of talent within its secondary. Adding Downs to a unit with elite cornerbacks was only a pipedream in College Football 25 until it happened in real life.

That said, the Buckeyes lack proven depth. Their youth might have to play season-defining snaps if a starter goes down. There's no doubt the raw talent is there for the Buckeyes to survive any issue, but it's a little surprising Ohio State wouldn't add a veteran with a little more experience at defensive back than Styles, in particular.