Arizona Ties to the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish

When the College Football Playoff champ is crowned on Monday night, a few guys with Arizona ties will be bringing home some hardware. Both Ohio State and Notre Dame have recruited Arizona well over the years, and some key players from the state have helped get their teams to where they are today.

Lathan Ransom – Ohio State safety – Salpointe Catholic

The safety is fourth on the team with 78 tackles. He has six forced fumbles, three interceptions in his time in Columbus and has been an experienced leader in the secondary. He did exactly that when he was a two-way star at Salpointe Catholic. It’s especially impressive because Ransom went down with a leg injury in 2021 at the Rose Bowl. He’s battled through multiple ailments and could cap off his career with the Buckeyes with a national championship.

Tosh Baker – Notre Dame Offensive Line – Pinnacle

The former Pioneer stepped up on the biggest stage for the Irish. In Notre Dame’s Orange Bowl win against Penn State, tackle Anthonie Knapp went down with an injury. Baker – a fifth-year senior who opted to stay with the Irish after getting beat out for a starting spot – stepped in and helped set the tone for Notre Dame up front.

He was one of the best stories when he was navigating his recruitment. He had a handful of basketball offers and was relatively new to football. After a productive spring, he was one of the most recruited players in his junior and senior seasons.

Denzel Burke – Ohio State defensive back – Saguaro

The former Saguaro two-way star has been another playmaker in the Buckeye secondary. He played some of his best football in the Rose Bowl against Oregon. He was “the young guy” in a stacked secondary in Saguaro that included older players Kelee Ringo and Jacobe Covington and showed he belonged all those years ago.

Ohio State CB Denzel Burke vs Oregon:

🔴 29 Coverage Snaps
🔴 1 Time Targeted
🔴 Zero Yards Allowed@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/7nJvBetSI7

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 4, 2025

Ben Morrison – Defensive back – Brophy College Prep

Morrison was an instant-impact defensive back for the Irish, intercepting nine passes over his first two years in South Bend. Entering the season, he was slated for a sure-fire 1st round pick in this spring’s NFL Draft and a lead ballhawk on a talented secondary. Morrison went down with a season-ending hip injury after Week 6 of the season. While he hasn’t been able to make an impact on the field, he can still do so off the field as a team leader.

Jordan Clark – Notre Dame Nickel – Former Arizona State Sun Devil

Clark spent his entire career in Tempe before transferring to Notre Dame. Despite leaving, Clark, Kenny Dillingham and Ryan Clark – forme Steeler and Jordan’s father – have been very vocal about their mutual respect and love for each other.

Today on #DCandRC I got a chance to thank @KennyDillingham for doing something most coaches wouldn’t do. He called Coach Freeman let him know what kind of young man @Jclark21_ was. I am forever grateful to him! He’s going to build a winner, because he’s the right kind of man. pic.twitter.com/uC4sJs9tZq

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 6, 2023

On the year, he has 33 total tackles, an interception and five passes defended.

Kennedy Urlacher – Notre Dame Safety – Chandler High School

The former Chandler Wolf has found the field as a freshman, notching 12 tackles and a pass defended. In high school, he totaled 127 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Miles Lockhart – Ohio State defensive back – Basha

Miles helped the Bears reach their first state championship, and was a key member to raising the standard at that program. Ohio State was on him early in his recruitment, and he never really took his sights off the Buckeyes.

Brent Zdebski – Ohio State Quality Control

Zdebski is on the Buckeye staff and the son of Shadow Ridge head football coach Mike Zdebski.