Ohio State has successfully secured a commitment from five-star safety Blaine Bradford on Monday, pulling the Louisiana native away from both LSU and Texas.
Bradford, a standout from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is ranked as the No. 1 safety and the No. 23 overall player in the Class of 2026 according to the 247Sports composite.
In his announcement, Bradford explained that Ohio State was the perfect fit for his development and future, stating, “Ohio State is the best place for my development and for my future.”
Although heavily pursued by schools in the Southeastern Conference, Bradford ultimately chose Ohio State over the likes of LSU, Texas, and other major programs. He had also been considering offers from Oregon.
The commitment of Bradford strengthens Ohio State’s already impressive 2026 recruiting class, which also includes Chris Henry Jr., the No. 2 wide receiver in the country from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California.