March has been a busy month for the Ohio State recruiting efforts. After earning the commitments of three offensive linemen, the top 2026 safety recruit in the country pledged his services to the Buckeyes. Blaine Bradford joined the 2026 Ohio State recruiting class from Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Monday. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, he is a five-star safety, the top safety in the recruiting cycle, and the 23rd-best player regardless of position. He joins long-time commit Chris Henry, Jr. as the only composite five-star athlete in the class thus far.
Despite coming from deep within SEC country, the Buckeyes swiped Bradford away from the likes of LSU and Texas.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 Safety Blaine Bradford has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’2 205 S from Baton Rouge, LA chose the Buckeyes over LSU, Oregon, & Texas
“Ohio State is the best place for my development and for my future.”https://t.co/HkUeZgMBbW pic.twitter.com/i4t7SFFByK
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) March 31, 2025
Bradford is the latest in a long line of top-end safety recruits. Last year, five-star Faheem Delane committed. The year before, Caleb Downs transferred in with Jaylen McLain who is projected to man the back-end of the secondary with him in 2025. Bradford is a six-foot-one, 207-pound thumper at the safety position. He plays well above his weight and 247Sports‘ Gabe Brooks even claimed that he could play as an off-ball linebacker if he added some mass.
Bradford has a high football IQ and great play recognition. He’s a weapon who, when he keys in on a run, runs like he’s shot out of a cannon downhill to make the play. When making the tackle, he’s as sure as it gets. He drives through the ball carriers and can blow up the play with ease. He could be a great box safety in college and would be a great compliment to a free-range coverage safety. Bradford has the speed to keep up with the burners outside and is a multi-sport athlete for his high school.
Some experts expect Bradford to be the type of player to challenge for playing time as a true freshman in 2026. The 2026 recruiting cycle is heating up and now that the Buckeyes have eight commits, Ohio State is sitting with the seventh-best class according to 247Sports.
Main Photo: Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
