Jaylen McClain S Ohio State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #8 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.35 seconds (98%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #8 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.35 seconds (98%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.8 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 48.3 | |
| Tackling: |
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97% |
| Run Defense: |
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88% |
| Coverage: |
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80% |
| Zone: |
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82% |
| Man/Press: |
|
75% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#73
Position rank:
#12 (DB)
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 1279 | ||
ESPN RATING: 83/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Malaki Starks - Georgia |
|
81% |
| Daxton Hill - Michigan |
|
75% |
| Lewis Cine - Georgia |
|
73% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Jaylen McClain played at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, New Jersey, making 126 tackles, three fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and a blocked field goal as a senior. On3 rated him a four-star recruit and the No. 3 player in New Jersey. His father, Maurice, was a free safety at Syracuse, where current Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia coached him as a graduate assistant in 1999.McClain played in 15 games for Ohio State's 2024 national champions, starting against Nebraska when Lathan Ransom was hurt. He won a starting job in 2025, playing all 67 defensive snaps and making eight tackles in the opening win over No. 1 Texas, including a third-and-goal stop. Ryan Day said afterward that he is a good tackler who sees things, plays downhill and is fast. He finished with 53 tackles and was a third-team All-Big Ten pick by the media, and Ohio State's season ended with a loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl.
McClain has become a playmaker in 2026. He intercepted passes at Texas and at Iowa, broke up multiple passes in the win over Illinois and had a strip sack in the win at Indiana, his first career sack and forced fumble. He is a Thorpe Award semifinalist, and he has nearly 40 tackles in eight games for a 6-2 team.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a safety, with one of the best forty times in the class
- Sure tackler, with one missed tackle in eight games this season
- Interceptions at Texas and Iowa and a strip sack at Indiana this season
- Reads route concepts and drives on throws from depth
- Plays downhill and fills quickly against the run
- Thorpe Award semifinalist with experience on a national title team
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- No interceptions in 2025 before this season's breakout
- Just two seasons as a full-time starter, counting this one
- USC completed both passes thrown his way in the October loss
- Coverage reps in man against bigger tight ends are still developing
Scouting Report: Summary
McClain is a fast, instinctive safety whose game has taken a clear step in 2026. He has rare speed, reads route concepts and drives on throws from depth, and he is one of the surest tacklers in the class, with one missed tackle in eight games this season and four in all of 2025. Ryan Day has described him as a player who sees things, plays downhill and is fast. He also played in 15 games for the 2024 national champions, starting against Nebraska.The ball production that was missing in 2025 has arrived. He intercepted passes at Texas and at Iowa, broke up multiple passes against Illinois and forced a fumble with a strip sack in the win at Indiana. He is a Thorpe Award semifinalist, and he has played more than 460 snaps for a 6-2 team. He has allowed seven catches on 13 targets this season. His interception at Texas came in a one-point loss, and his strip sack came in the win that ended Indiana's long winning streak.
However, his resume as a playmaker is short. He had no interceptions in 2025, and 2026 is just his second year as a full-time starter. His man coverage against bigger tight ends is still developing, and USC completed both passes thrown his way in the 30-18 loss on 31 October. Teams will want to see this season's ball production hold through November.
Overall, McClain is a rangy, sure-tackling safety with the speed to play the deep middle and the instincts to finish plays on the ball. He projects as a third-round safety with the ceiling of a starting free safety and a strong floor as a special teams contributor and reserve. His speed also gives a defense the flexibility to use him in the box, in the slot or as a single-high safety.
How other scouting services rate Jaylen McClain (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
59.1
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
12.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.