Earl Little Jr. S Ohio State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #1 ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 03/16/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #1 | |
| ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.44 seconds (88%*) | |
| Age: 23.7 DOB: 03/16/2003 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.4 / 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: | 78.8 | |
| Tackling: |
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80% |
| Run Defense: |
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80% |
| Coverage: |
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79% |
| Zone: |
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77% |
| Man/Press: |
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80% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#122
Position rank:
#28 (DB)
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| College Games: 32 College Snaps: 1270 | ||
ESPN RATING: 82/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 95/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jonas Sanker - Virginia |
|
87% |
| Craig Woodson - California |
|
86% |
| Ronnie Hickman - Ohio State |
|
86% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Earl Little Jr. grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and played at American Heritage, making 106 tackles and six interceptions in his career and earning an All-American Bowl invitation. On3 ranked him the No. 5 cornerback and No. 39 overall prospect in the 2022 class, and he chose Alabama over Florida State and Miami. His father, Earl Little Sr., played nine seasons in the NFL.Little played sparingly at Alabama, where multiple shoulder injuries limited him, before transferring to Florida State. He played in 12 games as a reserve in 2024, making 15 tackles and a sack, and was the team's special teams newcomer of the year. He broke out in 2025, playing all 12 games and starting the first 11, leading Florida State in tackles and adding four interceptions for 83 return yards and two forced fumbles. He opened that season with nine tackles in a win over Alabama and finished as a second-team All-ACC pick, the team's defensive MVP, a captain and the winner of the Bobby Bowden Leadership Award.
Little committed to Ohio State in January 2026 for his final season. He had a cleanup procedure on his knee in the spring and missed the spring game, and Ryan Day said he played fast and twitchy and communicated well. He made 11 tackles in the 24-23 loss at Texas and has 44 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in eight games for a 6-2 team. Matt Patricia has called him a player who is always around the ball.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a defensive back, with a top-tier forty
- Four interceptions and two forced fumbles at Florida State in 2025
- Made 11 tackles in the loss at Texas this season
- Versatile defender listed at cornerback, safety and nickel
- Florida State defensive MVP, captain and second-team All-ACC pick
- Has missed four tackles in eight games this season
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Missed 15 tackles in 2025, a habit that must be fixed
- No interceptions this season after four in 2025
- Only one season as a full-time starter before 2026
- Shoulder injuries at Alabama and a spring knee procedure
Scouting Report: Summary
Little is a fast, versatile defensive back who broke out at Florida State and has become a starter at Ohio State. He has rare speed, and in 2025 he led Florida State in tackles, intercepted four passes, forced two fumbles and was named the team's defensive MVP and a captain. Ohio State lists him at cornerback, and he has also been projected at safety and nickel, and Ryan Day and Matt Patricia have both praised his speed and his knack for being around the ball.His 2026 season has been steady for a 6-2 team. He made 11 tackles in the 24-23 loss at Texas, has 44 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble in eight games, and he has allowed nine catches for 104 yards on 16 targets. He has also cleaned up his tackling, with four misses this season. As the son of a nine-year NFL safety, he brings a strong football background, and his experience at three programs has given him a wide range of schemes and roles.
However, there are questions. He missed 15 tackles in 2025, so his tackling has been inconsistent over his career, and he has no interceptions this season after four last year. He played sparingly at Alabama because of shoulder injuries and had a knee procedure in the spring, so teams will review his medical file. He also has only one season as a full-time starter before this year, so his body of strong tape is still limited.
Overall, Little is an athletic, experienced defensive back whose speed, versatility and ball skills give him a clear NFL role. He projects as a fourth-round defensive back with the ceiling of a starting nickel or safety and the floor of a core special teams player. His special teams background at Florida State and his ability to play several positions should help him make a roster early in his career.
How other scouting services rate Earl Little Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
114.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
29.0
*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.