Ohio State football got some exciting news on April 3, 2025: four-star safety Simeon Caldwell said "yes" to the Buckeyes for the 2026 class. The announcement dropped Thursday morning, and it’s a huge win for head coach Ryan Day and his staff, who’ve been dominating the recruiting trail lately. Caldwell, a standout from Jacksonville’s The Bolles School, turned down big-time programs like Miami, Notre Dame, and USC to join Ohio State. It’s pretty clear he’s all in on what the Buckeyes are building.

Caldwell’s a top-100 national prospect and one of the best safeties in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports’ rankings. At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, he’s got the speed and size to make plays all over the field. He’s been a linebacker in high school, but Ohio State sees him shining as a safety—though they love his versatility so much they might move him around if needed. His junior year stats say it all: 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and even two blocked field goals. This kid’s a game-changer.

Tim Walton's Nephew

Here’s the cool part: Caldwell’s got family ties to the program. His uncle is Tim Walton, Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach. “Me and him are tight,” Caldwell said about Walton earlier. “He’s an awesome coach—one of the best out there—and I know he’s got my back.” With Walton’s NFL experience and knack for turning defensive backs into stars, it’s no wonder Caldwell feels right at home with the Buckeyes.

Two in a Row

This commitment comes hot on the heels of another big defensive pickup. Just a few days ago, Ohio State landed five-star safety Blaine Bradford, the top-ranked safety in the 2026 class. Now, with Caldwell on board too, the Buckeyes have two elite safeties locked in within a week. Toss in a 2026 class that already features studs like five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr. and four-star tight end Corbyn Fordham—who’s Caldwell’s teammate at Bolles—and this group’s starting to look unstoppable.

Caldwell had plenty of options. Miami, Notre Dame, and USC were all in the running, and he’d even scheduled official visits with them for this summer. But after popping up to Columbus for an unofficial visit over the weekend, he knew he’d found his spot. “This feels like home,” he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett in his commitment announcement. “I took my time with recruiting for a reason—I wanted the right place, and Ohio State’s it.” He’s already canceled those other visits, which shows how confident he is in this choice.

Ask Caldwell what he brings to the table, and he doesn’t hold back. “I think they’re getting one of the sharpest players out there,” he said after committing. “Football’s been my whole life. I’m fast, I’m big, I hit hard—safety, linebacker, whatever they need, I’ll do it and do it right.” That’s no shock when you look at his roots. His dad, Mike Caldwell, played 11 years in the NFL and coached the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense.

What it Means for Ohio State

For Ohio State fans, this is just more fuel for the hype train after that national championship run. “Buckeye Nation’s coming off a title, and there’s more where that came from,” Caldwell said. “I’m not leaving here without a ring.” That kind of fire fits perfectly with what Day, Walton, safeties coach Matt Guerrieri, and new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are cooking up. Caldwell gave them all props for making him feel wanted.

As spring turns to summer, Ohio State’s 2026 class is shaping up to be something special. Caldwell’s commitment locks down a secondary that’s already looking tough, and it’s got fans dreaming of more big things ahead. For now, though, let’s just soak in another recruiting win—and get pumped to see Simeon Caldwell light it up in Scarlet and Gray come 2026.