The freshman Ohio State defense story everyone talks about usually starts with the flashier names: Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd, Jay Timmons and Khary Wilder. That makes sense. Henry and Boyd are dynamic receivers, Wilder is a pass-rush force, and Timmons is already one of the defense’s top players.
But while those guys have drawn the buzz, Simeon Caldwell has been building something a little quieter and, maybe, just as important. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety has carved out a real place in the rotation, and he’s starting to look like more than a freshman who fills space when needed.
Caldwell arrived in Columbus with solid credentials, even if he didn’t come in with the same spotlight as some of his classmates. The Bolles School product from Jacksonville was a four-star prospect, ranked No. 208 nationally in the 247Sports Composite and listed as a linebacker rather than a safety. He also brought plenty of production with him: more than 300 career tackles as a three-year starter, plus 92 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal as a senior.
Football is in the family, too. Simeon’s father, Mike Caldwell, played 11 seasons in the NFL, and his uncle is Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Tim Walton.
Even with that background, most preseason projections didn’t have Caldwell playing a major role this fall. Ohio State had Jaylen McClain and Earl Little Jr. penciled in as starters, with Terry Moore, Leroy Roker III and Blaine Bradford also in the mix.
Caldwell has pushed past most of them anyway.
The first clue came in fall camp, when he shed his black stripe before most of the other defensive freshmen. Then came the opener against Ball State, when he logged 24 snaps. That kind of usage can happen in a blowout, but it still signaled that the staff wanted a look.
The more telling moment came at Texas. In Ohio State’s 24-23 loss, the starters were on the field almost the entire night.
Ten of the 11 defensive starters played more than 50 snaps, and McClain played all 80. Caldwell only saw five, but they came in dime packages, which says plenty about how much the coaches trusted him in a road game of that size.
Since then, his workload has only grown. He played 20 snaps against Illinois, matching Roker, then hit a season high with 26 against Iowa when Timmons was out.
That game also showed how much flexibility he brings, since he lined up at both safety and linebacker. Caldwell finished with three tackles and a 71.8 grade from Pro Football Focus.
Among Ohio State safeties, only McClain graded higher, and Caldwell finished ahead of Little and Roker.
Against Iowa, he also drew a tough assignment on tight end DJ Vonnahme, and he handled it well. He even came up with a key open-field tackle on Vonnahme in the second half to help stop an Iowa drive.
Bradford, the five-star safety many expected to break through early, has not been part of the defensive rotation in Ohio State’s last three games. That doesn’t settle anything long term, and freshman development rarely moves in a straight line. But right now, the staff is showing who it trusts, and Caldwell is in that circle.
What makes this even more interesting is that there’s still room for him to grow. Right now, he fits best in Ohio State’s big nickel and dime looks, where his size makes him a useful answer against tight ends and bigger slot receivers. That kind of flexibility could matter later in the season against offenses like USC, Oregon and Michigan, all of whom have tight end threats.
If Caldwell keeps trending this way, 30 to 35 snaps a game by November doesn’t feel far-fetched, and he could be a real factor by the time the playoffs arrive.
The long view matters, too. Little is a fifth-year senior from Florida State and will be out of eligibility after 2026.
McClain is a true junior, but he’s already seen as a possible early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If he has the kind of season people expect, Ohio State could be staring at a safety reset next year.
Bradford will be part of that conversation, along with Roker and whoever else the Buckeyes add through recruiting and the transfer portal. Caldwell will be in it as well, and he’ll have something the others can’t claim: a season of real game experience in big spots, including Texas and Iowa.
There’s also been discussion about whether he eventually grows into a linebacker, the way Sonny Styles did. That remains possible. For now, though, Caldwell is already showing he can handle both jobs, and that versatility only makes him more valuable.
He may not be the freshman making the loudest noise in Columbus. He doesn’t need to be. Caldwell has already earned meaningful snaps on one of the country’s best defenses, and he looks like a player whose role is only going to keep expanding.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshmen Suddenly Have A Real Chance To Break Through
Ryan Days latest update on Ohio States young wide receivers gave a clearer picture of where the room stands heading into Maryland. Freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd have been making progress, and Day said both have shown the kind of confidence that can earn more trust in the passing game. With the Buckeyes still sorting through their receiver rotation, the door is at least a little more open for the first-year players to carve out snaps.
The timing matters because Ohio State may need extra help at the position, and the staff has already been looking for more ways to spread the field. That creates a real opening for Henry and Boyd to get involved in a game that could test the depth chart a little more than expected, while Kyle Parker is also positioned to enter the mix after missing the early part of the season. The next step is whether those practice flashes turn into actual game reps when the Buckeyes line up against Maryland. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Few Injury Questions At The Worst Time
Ohio States first availability report for the Maryland game brought a few expected bumps, but the overall picture was still fairly manageable. The Buckeyes entered the week with several players either out or uncertain, yet the list also suggested the roster is generally in good shape heading into the matchup.
The biggest concern for the offense is the status of wide receivers Devin McCuin and Brandon Inniss, both of whom were listed as questionable. On the other side of the ball, safety Leroy Roker III was ruled out, leaving Ohio State to sort through a handful of late-week injury questions at a time when depth and stability matter even more. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's First Preseason Result Just Raised A Real Roster Debate
Ohio State opened its preseason slate with an unofficial exhibition against Cincinnati at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, a tune-up that offered an early look at the Buckeyes in game action while also serving as part of the CareSource Invitational, an event tied to mental health awareness. The result, a 79-68 loss, is the kind of preseason outcome that matters less in the standings than in the questions it can surface, especially for a roster still sorting out roles and rhythm before the games count.
John Mobley Jr. was the bright spot for Ohio State, finishing with a team-high 15 points in his first action of his junior season. The Buckeyes now turn to another exhibition, a matchup with Butler on October 25 at the Schottenstein Center, where there will be another chance to see which pieces are settling in and which ones still leave coach and fans with a real roster debate. [Read more 🡒]