Recruiting Upset? Catholic High’s Blaine Bradford commits to Ohio State
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
In what some national recruiting analysts have called an upset of sorts; Catholic High’s Blaine Bradford chose to leave his hometown.
Instead of remaining within close proximity of LSU’s campus, the five-start Bradford committed Monday to national champion Ohio State following an unofficial visit to the campus in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend.
“Ohio State’s the best place for my development and my future,” Bradford told Hayes Fawcett of On3Sports.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Bradford was a major part of a Catholic High team that went 12-1 last season. The Bears lost 21-19 to eventual Division I select state champion Karr in the semifinal round.
Many observers believed Bradford, a first-team Class 5A All-State and All-Metro selection, may be ticketed for LSU where his older brother Jacob signed in December.
Texas was also considered a school with a great opportunity to land Bradford, the nation’s top-rated safety and the nation’s No. 25 rated prospect by On3.
Bradford, the state’s No. 2 rated prospect behind University High offensive lineman Lamar Brown, made an unofficial visit last November when Ohio State defeated Indiana, 38-15, in a Big 10 Conference game.
The Buckeyes went on to win the national title on Jan. 20 with a 34-20 victory over Notre Dame and that momentum has carried to the program’s recruiting efforts for this current cycle.
OSU jumped to No. 4 in the current team recruiting rankings by On3 with its latest pledge.
Bradford was on hand for an unofficial visit that included a scrimmage and an opportunity to further develop his relationship with OSU head coach Ryan Day, along with his lead recruiters Matt Guerierri and Tim Walton, a former LSU assistant.
Bradford had official visits scheduled in June to Texas (6-8), Ohio State (13-15), and LSU (20-22), but those plans may have changed.
“I just felt it,” Bradford told Steve Wiltfong, national football recruiting writer for On3. “You just get a gut feeling. I prayed about it. It’s something you never felt before. When you get that feeling, you’ve got to take it. I think I’m shut down.”