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Ohio State stands in a great spot with elite five-star defender — but one SEC sleeper is rising in his recruitment

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 6:17 PM ET

Ohio State currently holds the No. 6-ranked recruiting class in the country for 2026, according to 247Sports, with 21 commitments already on board.

The month of June and the early days of July have been productive for the Buckeyes. Still, they’ll need to finish strong if they hope to secure a top-five class.

One of Ohio State’s top remaining targets is five-star safety Bralan Womack, who is set to announce his commitment on August 22. A major national recruiting insider feels good about the Buckeyes’ chances.

Five-star S Bralan Womack still leaning toward Ohio State as commitment nears

“I still believe if Ohio State gets everything dialed in right off the field, it will be tough to beat for Womack,” said 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong. Womack seems to agree.

“Just with the locker room, the players in it, and the relationships they have,” Womack told Wiltfong. “Being around the players on my OV weekend, I was hanging around like I was already part of the team. It’s a great feeling to have—being able to walk into a place and not feel uncomfortable at all. You’ll fit right into the scheme, the locker room, and the city. I feel like those are the three main things you need if you’re going in to start early.”

Whiparound: Latest on Lamar Brown and Bralan Womack, Texas A&M and Ohio State in the mix for several blue-chippers, predictions for top recruits including Oregon for a Top100 player. Syracuse wins out for 5-star WR. The intel here: https://t.co/SfwZyOHxhE pic.twitter.com/9UGznVQ3sL
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong_) July 7, 2025

However, the Auburn Tigers are making a serious push for Bralan Womack’s commitment

“Before the OVs, we called all the coaches and told them this is the last visit—this is the last show,” Womack told On3. “I really feel Auburn took advantage of it. They laid out everything, and we left with no questions.”

Ohio State already has commitments from two top-10 safeties in the 2026 class: No. 3-ranked Blaine Bradford and No. 6-ranked Simeon Caldwell. It’s possible Caldwell could ultimately transition to linebacker at the next level.

If the Buckeyes can add Womack to a group that already includes Bradford, they’d be well-positioned for big success in the secondary following the Caleb Downs era.

Ohio State appears to be the leader for the No. 1 safety in the country—but they’ll have to hold off a strong late push from Auburn to seal the deal. Florida and Texas A&M remain in the mix as well.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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