Football Career
Jaylen operates as the quiet storm of the defense, using his athletic pedigree and superior work ethic to dominate his opponents.
2024 · Freshman
He played in all 15 games as a true freshman on a national championship team, with 15 tackles, 1 for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He logged 110 defensive snaps and 213 more on special teams.
Games started, all 14
Tackles, 6th on the roster
Pass breakups
Tackles vs. Texas, career high
2025 · First Year Starting
He won the job in camp and started all 14 games: 53 tackles, sixth on the roster, and 3 pass breakups. His 8 tackles against Texas in week one, his first start, were a career high. He was named third-team All-Big Ten.
27 TARGETS · 15 RECEPTIONS ALLOWED · 84 YARDS · 0 TOUCHDOWNS · 3.1 YARDS PER TARGET
Per Pro Football Focus, on the country’s top-ranked pass defense.
2026 · This Season
Ohio State rebuilt its secondary around him. He was one of three players the program sent to Big Ten Media Days, and he opened the season on the Nagurski and Wuerffel watch lists.
Before Columbus
Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, New Jersey. As a senior he made 126 tackles, with 3 fumble recoveries, a blocked punt, and a blocked field goal, and was named first-team all-conference and all-state. As a junior he made 83 tackles and 2 interceptions. He also played receiver and ran track. A four-star recruit in the class of 2024, he chose Ohio State over Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, Tennessee, USC, Michigan State, and Rutgers. He graduated early to enroll in January.