Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
The nephew of Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Tim Walton, Simeon Caldwell's football ties run deep. His dad, Mike, is the inside linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after an 11-year career as a player in the NFL.
It's clear that he has learned plenty of football from those two, as Caldwell became a four-star athlete in the 2026 recruiting class.
Simeon Caldwell
- Size: 6-2/195
- Position: S
- School: The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida)
- 247 Sports Composite: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #208 (#12 LB)
Background
When Ohio State offered Caldwell back in January 2024, he didn't yet have a composite ranking but had 15 Division I offers.
“Me and him have a great bond,” Caldwell said of Walton after he was offered. “And he's a great coach, one of the best coaches in the country. He coached in the league. So it's just a great opportunity. I'll know that he'll be able to coach me to the best of my ability. I know he has my best interests at heart, so it would be a great opportunity to play for him.”
After multiple trips to Columbus, Caldwell committed to the Buckeyes on April 3, 2025, three days after fellow safety Blaine Bradford pledged to Ohio State. He shut down his recruitment and was fully committed to OSU from that moment on.
Caldwell played early and often at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, receiving snaps as a freshman before becoming a three-year starter. He officially broke out in his sophomore season, as Caldwell notched 137 tackles (11 for loss), five quarterback hits, two interceptions, one sack, one pass breakup, one forced fumble. a fumble recovery and two blocked punts.
As a junior, he had 80 tackles (12 for loss), three sacks, three pass deflections and one forced fumble.
Simeon Caldwell has been doing it all this season @Sim_C24
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) October 9, 2024
The Under Armour All-American and one of the top juniors in the nation has sacks, blocked kicks, defensive touchdowns, and a whole bunch of tackles. Dude is different #UANext
(Game film via @Hudl) pic.twitter.com/tFQQW5ZwC4
In Caldwell's final high school season, he recorded 92 tackles (67 solo), three passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal, earning a Florida Times-Union Super 11 selection. Cadwell participated in both the Under Armour All-American game and the Polynesian Bowl.
Caldwell also competed in track and field at The Bolles School. He was part of Bolles' 4x100 relay team that won the Florida 2A championship in 2024. Caldwell ran an 11.02-second 100-meter dash and a 22.65-second 200-meter dash that season.
Scouting Report
With the size of a linebacker but the speed of a defensive back, Caldwell was used all over the field in high school. He did everything from rushing off the edge to playing in the middle of the field as a linebacker and lining up as a deep safety, where he will start his OSU career.
Caldwell possesses the quickness and burst to close gaps and bring down opposing ballcarriers, as well as the athleticism and speed to play in coverage, both in man and zone. He also has good technique in coverage to gain leverage.
Depth Chart Outlook
Much like former Buckeye star Sonny Styles, there’s a school of thought that Caldwell could eventually play linebacker in his Ohio State career as he grows into his 6-foot-2 frame. That said, he's starting his Ohio State career at safety and is willing to play any position to get on the field as fast as possible.
"I'll do whatever it takes to get on the field," Caldwell said. "I just love the game."
With that, the top four safeties on Ohio State’s depth chart in 2026 are expected to be Jaylen McClain, Earl Little Jr., Terry Moore and Leroy Roker III, with Moore and Roker competing for a starting spot alongside McClain and Little. Caldwell is competing with the likes of fellow freshmen Blaine Bradford and Jay Timmons (who’s listed as a cornerback but could back up Little at nickel), among others, for a spot on the two-deep.
While Caldwell's size and versatility bring a different element to the field among the backups, he will have a chance to compete for legitimate playing time beginning in 2027. Still, he can prove himself as a playmaker on special teams before then.
Better Know A Buckeye
Player Comparison: Jermale Hines
At 6-1 and 214 pounds, Hines played all over the field at Glenville before settling in at safety at Ohio State, the same path Caldwell will likely take.
Hines’ role with the Buckeyes increased throughout his four-year career in Columbus. He totaled 157 tackles (7.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks, three interceptions (one pick-six), three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown, with many of those stats coming in his final two seasons in Columbus.
Whether it was causing turnovers deep in the defensive backfield or being an in-the-box safety with his hard-hitting ability, Hines was a playmaker throughout the secondary, the same way Caldwell could be given his size and versatility. He went on to be a fifth-round pick in the 2011 NFL draft after his four-year career at Ohio State.
