True freshman Simeon Caldwell is starting to look like more than just a promising name on Ohio State’s roster. The box safety/nickel hybrid has carved out snaps in the Buckeyes’ secondary, and after what he did against Iowa, it’s easy to see why that role could keep growing.
The clearest sign came in Ohio State’s 31-14 win over the Hawkeyes, when Caldwell was trusted to handle Iowa tight end DJ Vonnahme. Vonnahme finished with six catches for 64 yards, and Land-Grant Holy Land’s Cole VanWiechen pointed to that assignment as a real checkpoint for the freshman.
"What stood out against Iowa was how comfortable Ohio State was asking him to handle tight end DJ Vonnahme. That’s a difficult assignment for a true freshman against a physical Big Ten tight end, and Caldwell held up," VanWiechen wrote.
That’s not the kind of task you hand out lightly, especially not to a freshman still finding his footing. Blaine Bradford was supposed to be the bigger early-usage name in that defensive back room, especially after the attention around his recruiting battle with heavy hitters like Texas and LSU.
Caldwell, meanwhile, looked more like a developmental piece on paper. So far, he’s been better in practice than the projection suggested.
That’s college football for you. Rankings and recruiting buzz can point you in a direction, but production is what actually puts a player on the field. Caldwell was a 4-star recruit, and he’s already showing he can handle meaningful rotational work.
There’s also a chance his future stretches beyond the role he’s filling now. He could eventually slide into linebacker work, much like Sonny Styles did in Columbus over the last few years or like Jamian Sherwood did a few years ago before joining the New York Jets from Auburn. For now, though, the important part is simpler: he’s proving he can contribute right away at safety and nickel, two spots where early playing time usually demands a much sharper command of the defense.
That’s what makes his rise stand out. Corners can sometimes lean on raw athleticism and survive early.
Safeties have to think faster, communicate cleaner, and understand the scheme at a higher level before they earn that trust. Caldwell is already showing signs he can do that.
His teammates have noticed, too. Transfer safety Earl Little Jr. said Caldwell is vocal on the back end and communicates well, and that he made an impact quickly once he arrived.
Those kinds of intangibles matter, and Ohio State appears to have found them early in the season. For a defense that hasn’t exactly started the way fans hoped, that’s a real positive development.
The Buckeyes have had their rough patches, including run-defense issues against Illinois and late-game hiccups against Texas. But those misfires are being balanced by the emergence of young players like Caldwell and Jay Timmons. In a season where the defense still has work to do, growth from newcomers is a good sign that the machine is moving the right way.
Ohio State would probably love to see that kind of breakout happen on offense, too. Maybe that comes later. For now, Caldwell is giving the Buckeyes something valuable: proof that he can help now, while still leaving plenty of room to figure out exactly what he becomes.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Have A Cheaper Way To Watch Todays Game
For Ohio State fans trying to follow todays game without leaning on cable, the options are more crowded than ever, but also a little more manageable if price is the main concern. The latest rundown of college football streaming services points viewers toward a handful of familiar platforms, including DIRECTV MySports, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and Fox One, each offering a different mix of live channels, trial periods and monthly costs.
What makes this weeks viewing puzzle interesting is that the cheapest route is not always the most obvious one, especially when channel access can vary by service. For Buckeyes fans, the real challenge is matching the broadcast with a package that actually carries it, which is why the best value option may depend less on name recognition and more on which platform gives the easiest path to the game without forcing viewers into a pricier bundle. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Star Just Reignited The Debate Ohio State Fans Love
Jake Butt briefly reopened one of the most familiar arguments in college football when he suggested in an interview that Michigans 2023 national championship carries an asterisk because of how the sign-stealing scandal has colored public perception. The former Wolverines tight end later took to social media to clarify that he believes those championships were real and earned, but the initial remark was enough to stir up a debate Ohio State fans never seem to tire of revisiting.
For Buckeyes followers, the timing only adds another layer to a rivalry that already lives on edge, especially with Michigan now trying to steady itself through coaching changes and uneven play since Jim Harbaughs departure. Even as Butt walked back the sharper edge of his comment, the larger issue remains unresolved: how much the scandal has damaged the way outsiders view a title that the program still claims as legitimate. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Freshman RBs Shrinking Role Now Carries A Bigger Concern
Legend Beys role in Ohio States backfield has already been sliding, and the freshman running back has not appeared in the last two games after seeing only limited action earlier in the season. For a program that keeps a close eye on the development and availability of every scholarship player, a young runner disappearing from the rotation is notable on its own, especially when the Buckeyes are trying to sort out depth behind the established options.
The bigger concern is what has been happening away from the field. Bey was reportedly cited for speeding and allegedly evicted from his apartment for nonpayment of rent, adding another layer of uncertainty around a player whose playing time has already been shrinking. It is still unclear whether those off-field matters are tied to his reduced role, and the coaching staff has not confirmed any connection, leaving the situation open as one more item to monitor around the Buckeyes. [Read more 🡒]