Ohio State seems to be losing defensive backs left and right.

Three underclassmen left early for the NFL last year. Two already left this year, with the potential of one more if Marshon Lattimore chooses to cash in.

But on Tuesday, Ohio State added a potential starter to its 2017 roster.

The Buckeyes landed a commitment from Kendall Sheffield, the top-rated JUCO cornerback and No. 4 overall JUCO recruit in the country. ESPN reported that Sheffield picked OSU instead of the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, TCU and USC.

Sheffield was once a five-star recruit in Alabama’s heralded 2015 class, but he redshirted and transferred to Blinn College last summer because of a lack of playing time.

RELATED: Five-star CB Jeffrey Okudah commits to Ohio State

At Ohio State, the 6-1, 185-pound cornerback will have a chance to get just that. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining to carve out a role in Columbus.

Sheffield joined a 2017 Ohio State recruiting class that’s already loaded with talented defensive backs.

Three days ago, OSU landed a commitment from five-star cornerback Jeffrey Okudah. Fellow five-star CB Shaun Wade is also enrolled already, as is four-star safety Isaiah Pryor and four-star cornerback Marcus Williamson.

With Sheffield’s commitment, Ohio State overtook Alabama for the No. 1 spot in the 247sports class rankings.