COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Caleb Downs arrived at Ohio State as a transfer from Alabama, he immediately became the focal point of the defense — a quarterback of the defense, a coach in the huddle and a supercomputer between plays.

But another safety has quietly emerged as equally indispensable: sophomore Jaylen McClain.

“Jaylen McClain’s been awesome,” Andrew Gillis explained on the Buckeye Talk podcast. “He lays the lumber. He moves really well. I think he pairs really well with Caleb Downs.”

Through three games, McClain has racked up 17 tackles (13 solo), but it’s his versatility and physical presence that has turned heads.

Against Ohio University, he delivered a hit so devastating that podcast host Steve Means described it as McClain asking the ball carrier, “Hey, are you sure you want t

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