Post-OSU Update: Gareon Conley declared for the 2017 NFL Draft with one year of eligibility remaining. Conley was selected in the first round (24th pick) by the Oakland Raiders. A sexual assault allegation before the draft caused many teams to shy away from Conley, but the Raiders were confident in his innocence (he passed a polygraph). In 2022, a court ruled that Conley’s 2017 accuser had to pay him $300 for malicious prosecution.

A shin injury kept him from contributing much his rookie season. He did show flashes in his second year, making three interceptions (one returned for a TD) and 37 tackles. Conley was traded to the Texans midway through 2019 and again dealt with injury issues. He is yet to play again in the NFL. (updated: Dec. 2023)

Pronunciation: GAR-ee-on

Major: Sport Industry (2016), Consumer and Family Financial Services (2015), Undeclared (2014)

Weight: 195 (2015-16), 190 (2014), 170 (2013)

2016 Media Guide: It’s athletic and talented Gareon Conley’s turn to lead the Ohio State cornerbacks, a position group that has seen its last three leaders drafted into the NFL with Bradley Roby and Eli Apple each first-round picks (Roby in 2014 to Denver and Apple this year to the New York Jets) and Doran Grant a fourth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2015 … Conley is the only returning starter in the defensive secondary and he’ll leverage his 28 games played and 1,158 plays of experience with his younger teammates who are in the same position Conley was in this time last year: fighting for playing time … a fourth-year member of the team, Conley has played in every game the past two seasons, including 13 starts last year for the 12-1 Buckeyes … Conley has nine career passes defended – seven break-ups and two interceptions – and 65 total tackles.

2015: Conley started all 13 games at cornerback and earned honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference honors … he finished eighth on the team with 49 tackles and second with two interceptions … he also recorded five pass break-ups and blocked a punt vs. Rutgers … he stood out in Ohio State’s biggest games, with a career-high (and team-best) eight tackles vs. Virginia Tech, seven vs. Penn State, five solo tackles vs. Michigan and a career-high (and team-best) seven solo stops against Notre Dame … recorded his first career interception vs. Hawai’i and also had two PBUs that game … also had an interception in the Rutgers game.

2015 Media Guide: After a 2015 spring campaign in which he played opposite Eli Apple as a No. 1 cornerback, Gareon Conley is seeking that opportunity start this season for the Buckeyes … gone is NFL Draft pick Doran Grant (fourth round by Pittsburgh) and Conley, with 15 games played in and with 160 plays on defense to his credit, is second on the team – to Apple – in experience at the cornerback position.

2014: Conley played in all 15 games for the 2014 College Football Playoff national champions … accumulated 386 plays, including 160 snaps on defense as a cornerback … contributed significantly on special teams … finished the year with 16 tackles and two pass break-ups … had personal bests of three solo tackles in the wins over Illinois and Michigan State.

2014 Media Guide: Gareon Conley red-shirted the 2013 season as a true freshman.

2013 Media Guide: The No. 1 player in Ohio as a senior (ESPN 150) and a first-team Associated Press Division I all-state selection, Gareon Conley is an athlete with fine wide receiver-cornerback skills that earned him consensus four-star status (ESPN, Scout, 247Sports, Rivals) … the No. 43 overall prospect nationally by ESPN and the No. 14 cornerback prospect (247Sports) … played in the Under Armour All-American game.

High School: As a senior Conley, who was coached by Jason Hall at Washington, caught 50 passes, averaged 21.9 yards per catch and scored 16 touchdowns, while on defense he had 13 pass break-ups, an interception and 25 tackles … Washington was 11-2 during Conley’s senior season and advanced to the regional finals … recorded four interceptions and 30 tackles as a junior … Washington is also the same school that produced current Buckeye receiver Devin Smith.

Personal: Gareon is the son of Sherry Robinson and Jameel & Angel Conley.