Family ties pay off for Ohio State as top playmaker recruit makes recruitment decision known
Relationships have become a major part of what has made Ohio State so effective at recruiting, retaining, and maximizing players over the years. Whether it’s been harnessing their spiritual relationship with a higher being, creating lifelong brotherhood on the field, or coaches forging bonds off the field, Ohio State has been winning in the margins that lead to wins on gameday.
Secondary coach Tim Walton’s relationship with four-star safety Simeon Caldwell is a good example of how the pipeline can work. Caldwell committed to the Buckeyes on Thursday despite being a Jacksonville, Florida, native and being pursued by the likes of Notre Dame, Miami, USC, and Texas.
The difference for Ohio State is that Caldwell is Walton’s nephew.
“Ohio State is BIA for a reason. Best IN America,” Caldwell said in his announcement caption.
While Walton’s family ties to Caldwell were surely part of the equation for why he opted to leave the South. However, Walton’s own accomplishments have been paying dividends for the program. He was in the mix to be promoted to defensive coordinator and certainly had the resume to do so.
With 25 years of experience across the NFL and college, Walton has been a mainstay with the program since 2022. Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey once said, “Coach Walton … he’s probably one of the best DB coaches, if not the best DB coach, I’ve ever had in my life.”
Caldwell is joining five-star safety Blaine Bradford as a major out-of-state addition made this week. The duo figures to be the future of the secondary in the coming years.
