Either Leroy Roker or transfer Terry Moore will edge the other out for a "starting" role in the Ohio State Buckeyes' safety room, but both will end up winners during the 2026 season. That's how Bucknuts' Dave Biddle sees the ongoing competition between the two shaking out, anyway.
Per Biddle, "After playing in all 14 games in a reserve role for the Buckeyes as a redshirt freshman in 2025 (nine tackles, 1 pass break-up for the season), Roker ran with the first-team defense throughout spring. It will still be a good competition between him and fifth-year senior Terry Moore for a starting role, but both guys will likely play a lot regardless."
Roker had nine tackles and a pass break-up, while allowing two receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown catch in three targets, during the 2025 season. Roker played all 14 games, though mostly for OSU's special teams. As Roker revealed, though, those special teams snaps inspired confidence within him. Per Roker, "I started being confident from special teams, because special teams is very important here, so I think by creating a role for the special teams, I was able to put the trust in with the coaches and get on the field."
Moore, meanwhile, missed the entire 2025 season with a torn ACL suffered in the Gator Bowl that January during his Duke Blue Devils' 52-20 loss to Jaxson Dart and the Ole Miss Rebels. It could take a bit for Moore to be up to speed, especially jumping to the much bigger and faster Big Ten, though when he last played, he was the highest-graded (90.1 PFF overall grade) returning safety.
Still, it sounds like Matt Patricia isn't about to be partial to one or the other. In his light blitzing 4-2-5 defensive base, there will be more opportunities for defensive backs like Roker and Moore to find the field and make an impact. With Moore's pedigree and Roker's strides this spring, neither will be denied by the coaching staff.
Ohio State has a brilliant hedge if Terry Moore never fully recovers
While Moore seems like the hedge in the room on the surface, given how his injury might've affected his NIL/rev-share price tag, he's actually an understated swing for the fences after losing Caleb Downs to the 2026 NFL draft. Getting a premier player at a discount is how the best of the best win in any sport.
Roker is the actual hedge. Having steadily improved over the past two years in Columbus, Roker is the ideal guy to take a step forward in 2026. Having earned his keep as a three-star high school prospect in a crowded secondary, Roker is an ideal backup. Fortunately, he's played so well that he may be the "starter," though a 50/50 snap-share looks like the obvious play here.
Patricia and Safeties Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Matt Guerrieri are masterful on game day while moving the pieces around and calling plays, but it's clear they have done a swell job developing Roker over the past year, and in Guerrieri's case, the past two years.
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