Ohio State Holding on as SEC Powerhouse Appears to Flip Extremely Touted Recruit initially appeared on Athlon Sports activities.
It is clear that after coming off a nationwide championship season, the Ohio State Buckeyes impressed a number of recruits, as their 2026 class ranks No. 3 within the Huge Ten and No. 9 within the nation.
Nevertheless, these days of faculty soccer, a easy dedication will not be sufficient, as groups are always trying to flip gamers, with one instance being security Blaine Bradford out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He initially dedicated to the Buckeyes on March 31, however with Rivals Trade Rankings inserting him as a four-star prospect, the No. 5 security and the No. 47 participant within the nation, he is nonetheless garnering a number of consideration.
Ohio State Receiving Strain from SEC Crew
In an article from Rival’s Chad Simmons, the place he lists “10 prospects on flip watch this fall,” he reveals that the LSU Tigers have been in sizzling pursuit of Bradford.
“Blaine Bradford dedicated to Ohio State over LSU earlier this 12 months, however the Tigers, this system in his yard the place his brother performs, will not be giving up. … We all know the elite security at Catholic shall be inside Tiger Stadium for video games this season and LSU will work onerous to the top to maintain him dwelling,” Simmons wrote.
Seeing the Tigers nonetheless in sizzling pursuit would not come as a significant shock, although, as they, together with the Texas Longhorns, have been named the 2 different finalists for the protection earlier than he landed with the Buckeyes.
LSU Recruit Tried to Persuade Bradford
It is not as if LSU’s teaching and recruiting staffs have been the one ones making an attempt their hand at Bradford both, as athlete Lamar Brown, who dedicated to the Tigers on July 10, has even joined in.
Brown, additionally from Louisiana, tagged the protection in an X submit, saying “Come Residence!!!! @Blaine1307,” in an try to persuade Bradford to affix his hometown crew.
Ohio State Cannot Afford to Lose Bradford
Clearly, shedding any recruit can be a tough capsule to swallow, however that’s very true in relation to the opportunity of Bradford flipping.
Not solely is he the second-highest-rated participant the crew introduced in for this 12 months’s cycle, however he is additionally simply one in all two safeties. If he have been to discover a new dwelling, Ohio State can be left with solely four-star Simeon Caldwell on the place.
Associated: LSU Going through Bother as SEC Rival Named ‘High Competitors’ to Flip 5-Star WR
This story was initially reported by Athlon Sports activities on Jul 30, 2025, the place it first appeared.
