Boom! Ohio State lands top safety prospect in 2026 recruiting class.
Boom! Ohio State lands top safety prospect in 2026 recruiting class.
Boom! Matt Guerrieri and Ohio State football just got a commitment from one of the top safeties in the country. Five-star recruit, Blaine Bradford, has given his verbal pledge to be a Buckeye.
Bradford is ranked as the No. 1 safety according to 247Sports composite rankings for the 2026 class. It is quite a coup for the Ohio State coaching staff, plucking such a big-time recruit from the Deep South. Bradford grew up in the shadows of Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His brother, Jacob Bradford, is a 2025 commit to the hometown LSU Tigers. Yet, the younger brother has chosen to blaze his own trail heading north to Columbus. The Buckeyes beat out other programs such as Oregan, Texas, and, of course, LSU. Bradford's commitment comes after a weekend visit with the Buckeyes and spending time with both Guerrieri and secondary coach, Tim Walton.
Recruiting analyst Gabe Brooks loves what he sees from Bradford. "Stoutly assembled safety prospect who could potentially move around the defensive back seven, said Bradford. "Verified 6-1, 200 with frame space to keep adding mass if off-ball linebacker is a desired long-term home. Flies downhill quick-trigger pursuer vs. the run. Quick in diagnosis. Breaks down and drives through targets as a tackler. Speed-to-power ability and play strength enable playing through a block en route to the ball. Need more context as a pass defender after missing most of sophomore season with a knee injury (returned for state final). Also plays baseball and got some track reps in Spring 2024 (11.73 100, 4x100 relay). Entering junior year, looks like a forward-oriented safety or linebacker who can play in space while hitting above his weight as a striker."
Bradford confirmed the commitment with a post on social media that simply said "BIA," which stands for "Best in America," a moniker the Ohio State secondary has taken in recent years.
Bradford becomes the second five-star recruit in the 2026 class, joining wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. The Buckeyes now have the No. 7 ranked class with the flurry of recent commitments and only eight players in the fold. The Buckeye class will surely continue to rise as more players are added.
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