Jordan Battle, a 4-star safety prospect from Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School, just committed to play his college football for Ohio State.
Battle is rated as the 12th-best safety in the 2019 class, and the No. 170 player overall.
He chose the Buckeyes over offers from schools like Clemson, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Texas.
Battle measures 6-foot-1 and 187 lbs, good size for a defensive back.
On his highlight reel he showcases great awareness and ball skills, as well as good elusiveness with the ball in his hands.
With his size and ball skills, he could see time as corner in Columbus.
Battle is the second played listed as a safety in the Buckeyes’ 2019 recruiting class. Three-star prospect Bryson Shaw from Maryland committed back in April.
Ronnie ‘Rocket’ Hickman is listed as an athlete by recruiting services, but he is also expected to play safety with the Buckeyes.
With two safeties already in the class, that could point to Battle starting his career at corner instead.
The Buckeyes made a similar move this spring with Tyreke Johnson. He was listed as a safety coming out of high school, but played cornerback during spring ball instead.
Wherever he ends up on the field, Battle continues what has been a very productive pipeline from St. Thomas Aquinas to Columbus.
That program has produced star defensive ends Joey and Nick Bosa, WR Trevon Grimes, and CB Damon Arnette.
The Buckeyes are also recruiting Derek Wingo, a 2020 linebacker from the school who is rated as a 4-star prospect.
Aquinas is a powerhouse in Florida’s Class 7A, the second-highest level in the Sunshine State. The Raiders have won 10 state titles, including 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Battle is the 11th player to commit to Ohio State’s 2019 recruiting class, and the fourth this month following 4-star offensive lineman Harry Miller, 4-star quarterback Dwan Mathis, and 3-star athlete Craig Young, who will likely start his career on defense.
Battle is the seventh member of the class to rank in the top 200 players nationally.
You can see his junior season highlights below.
The foundations are impressive for the recruiting class and Jordan Battle just strengthens it that much more. Looking forward to seeing Mr. Battle extends the legacy of great players being developed at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and he’ll look fantastic as a Buckeye headed for a round 1 selection for the NFL.
That’s a mighty lofty projection. Few safetys get drafted in round 1, and running a 4.6 is safety speed at best. But with development and maturity let’s hope the projection is correct.