Nation’s No. 1 player nearing a decision, Ohio State in good position for another top safety target

The Buckeyes are in the mix for multiple top players in the 2026 class ahead of a major recruiting weekend.

The No. 1 player in the country regardless of position per the 24Sports Composite is Nixa, Missouri native, Jackson Cantwell. A target that needs no formal introduction, every program in the country would line up for his commitment with all that he brings to the table. Whether it be size, length, strength, or just his prep film, Cantwell is ranked where he’s at for a reason, and Ohio State has been in the mix for some time now.

Releasing a list of six final schools in February, Cantwell has been down to Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, and Ohio State for a while, taking visits to several this spring alone. It looks as if Jackson is really nearing a final decision as he took to his social media on Thursday to share his latest thoughts on where he may end up.

The phrase, “I have all the information I need” was mentioned and that’s pretty telling. As of right now, it appears the Buckeyes likely are on the outside looking in. Taking a spring visit in the past few weeks, Ohio State is still the lone program in his top schools to not have an official visit lined up, and typically that would tell you all you need to know.

The Buckeyes aren’t totally out of it by any means, but the easy guess here is believing they have plenty of ground to make up on the likes of Missouri, Michigan, and Georgia. Ohio State and Tyler Bowen will continue to punch here, but with other options they’re likely more favored for, it’s not all bad news for the Buckeyes.

For now, it does look like they’ll learn their fate one way or another sooner than later.

Buckeyes still in good position for another top safety prospect

With two commits locked in at the position, safeties coach Matt Guerrieri is proving his worth on the recruiting trail in a major way thus far in the 2026 class. Landing both Blaine Bradford and Simeon Caldwell, Ohio State has a duo that every coaching staff in the country would love to have. Both commits have also made it clear their recruitments are shut down and it’s all Buckeyes from here on out.

That said, the Buckeyes aren’t done with their defensive secondary recruiting, and if there’s one player they’d still welcome with open arms at the safety position, it’s Mississippi native Bralan Womack.

The No. 24 player nationally and second best safety per the 247Sports Composite, Womack is fresh off an Ohio State unofficial visit, and came away impressed even with the two commits in the fold. If anything, the staff made sure to give Womack their plans to play each in different ways, and it looks as if the visit went as well as it could have considering he’s been quoted as he feels great about Ohio State.

Normally it’s not a strong possibility to land this many elite guys at one position group in the same class, but Ohio State coming off a national championship season is recruiting on another level right now, and Womack to the Buckeyes shouldn’t be dismissed by any means.

Quick Hits

• Making a short trek south to Columbus today, Ohio State will play host to Ohio native Jermaine Polk. An unranked defensive lineman, Polk is a 6-foot-4, 265 pound athlete with nearly ten offers to his name and is hoping this next visit will continue to keep the attention on his recruitment. Schools such as Boston College and Iowa State round out his biggest offers, but several other MAC schools are also in the mix.