Earl Little Jr
Ohio State·6-0·198 lbScouting Report
A high-floor, instinctive rover safety who fills with authority.
The case for
- High-level diagnostic ability, reads the quarterback's eyes from deep zone and breaks early
- Fluid footwork and hip movement that holds up through change of direction
- Ball production when he does get his hands on it, 4 INT in 2025 to tie 3rd in the ACC
The worry
- Coverage has been inconsistent, which does not match the interception total
- Allowed a 96.4 rating when targeted, so the splash plays came with steady completions between them
- Only one productive season on the resume, 17 tackles total before the 2025 breakout
Full report
Earl Little Jr. arrives at Ohio State for 2026 as a fourth-stop safety with real pedigree and one loud year of production behind him. The son of former NFL safety Earl Little Sr., he was a 4-star recruit out of American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale, coached in high school by Patrick Surtain, and earned an All-American Bowl invitation before signing with Alabama. Two injury-limited seasons in Tuscaloosa produced nine games and two tackles, so he transferred to Florida State and moved off corner into a free safety and rover hybrid role. The 2025 season was the breakout: he led the Seminoles in tackles, wore a captain's patch, tied for third in the ACC with four interceptions, and turned in a nine-tackle performance against Alabama. Draft Countdown credits high-level diagnostic ability, especially reading a quarterback's eyes out of deep zone, plus a willingness to fill run gaps with authority. Vikings Wire ranked him sixth among summer safeties and framed him as close to a safe bet for a team that needs secondary help, if never a Caleb Downs tier talent. Silver and Black Pride placed him in a loaded 2027 safety group as a foundational, high-floor piece rather than a flashy one. His coverage tape tempers all of it, as he has struggled when targeted. Ohio State's defense hands him a high-profile stage to prove the 2025 tape travels.
Every strength
- Versatile rover profile, corner background lets a coordinator play him deep, in the box or over the slot
- Fills run gaps with real physical authority rather than drifting into tackles
- Vocal team captain at Florida State who set the standard for a young secondary
- Shows up in big games, nine tackles against Alabama and turnovers in leverage spots
- Decisive processor who plays with a controlled edge
Every weakness
- Injury-limited across two years at Alabama, durability is still the open question
- Man coverage technique against quick slot receivers needs refining, transition speed in tight spaces is the specific flaw
- Only 2 pass breakups against 4 interceptions suggests he plays the ball rather than the receiver
- Now on his third school in four years, adjusting to a new scheme again
- Modest disruption behind the line, 3.0 career TFL
NFL Comps
The pros whose college production, size and testing looked most like his. The percent is how close.
Kaevon Merriweather ’2377%Bacarri Rambo ’1376%Nate Allen ’1075%
Beau Brade ’2473%
Jaylen McCollough ’2472%
Kerby Joseph ’2268%Of his 20 closest coming out: 1 star, 6 starters, 7 backups, 6 didn't stick.
Scouts say: Jessie Bates, Jordan Poyer.
Draft Movement
Down 23 spots since Jun.
Where he sits on the consensus big board, each week since Jun. Up is better.
College Stats
2025 (Florida State): 12 G, 76 tkl, 2.0 TFL, 4 INT, 2 PD, 2 FF; 2024 (Florida State): 12 G, 15 tkl, 1.0 TFL; 2023 (Alabama): 9 G, 2 tkl; Career: 33 G, 93 tkl, 3.0 TFL, 4 INT, 2 PD, 2 FF
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $504K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Ohio State's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Portal: transferred from Florida State to Ohio State for 2026.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Awards & Honors
Second Team All-ACC (2025); Florida State team captain (2025); tied for 3rd in ACC in interceptions (2025); All-American Bowl invitee; 4-star recruit per 247Sports