Buckeyes Making Early Connection With Rising Florida Star

Ohio State assistant Tim Walton is on an epic recruiting heater at the moment and that is starting to spill over into the 2026 recruiting class as well where Walton is building some strong early relationships. One prospect that has established a good early connection with Walton is Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles star Simeon Caldwell.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound safety/linebacker is starting to pull in offers from the nation’s best programs, including the Buckeyes, and the early connection with Walton is paying dividends for Ohio State.

“Coach Walton is one of the best coaches in the country,” Caldwell told BuckeyeHuddle.com. “Coaching wise and just as a person in general. He’s a very likable guy that knows a lot about football.”

Caldwell’s respect for the Ohio State program goes beyond just Walton, however.

“The winning culture and history of Ohio State (stands out),” he said. “Coach Day has done a great job of keeping the standard high and writing their own legacy in recent years.”

Caldwell is hoping to get to Ohio State this off-season. He has been to Columbus before, but it was as a middle school camper.

“I went to a summer camp my 8th grade year and met some of the coaching staff,” he recalled. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get up there during the spring if my off season schedule allows me.”

Caldwell is an intriguing prospect because of his blend of size, athleticism, and physicality. Because of that, his future position is still a bit up in the air. Some feel he will stay at safety, others that he could move down to linebacker. Ohio State isn’t particularly concerned about which spot Caldwell ultimately settles at.

“They are recruiting me at both,” he explained. “If I grow into a linebacker, they have a plan for me and if I stay safety size they have a plan.”

Ohio State and Texas are two programs Caldwell wants to see more of this spring.

As a sophomore, Caldwell recorded 137 tackles and three interceptions.

Go to discussion...