What Ohio State gets in four-star cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt
Waxahachie (Texas) four-star cornerback Calvin Simpson-Hunt announced his flip from Texas Tech to Ohio State on Thursday afternoon as the Buckeyes dip into Texas once again to land one of the best defensive backs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Upon being offered by Texas Tech in November -- Simpson-Hunt's first offer -- the four-star immediately pledged to the Red Raiders towards the end of his junior season. However, as the offseason went on, his recruitment exploded with offers from Oregon, LSU, Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas and more as the spring went on.
His commitment to Texas Tech remained firm, but an offer from Ohio State in May began the process of Simpson-Hunt's flip.
In the month of June, Texas Tech fought to keep Simpson-Hunt in the class, but an official visit to Ohio State eventually helped seal the deal as the Buckeyes add their 15th commitment to bolster them back into the No. 1 spot in the Rivals 2023 Team Rankings.
Simpson-Hunt excelled last season on the 6A level in Texas playing in one of the state's toughest districts, as he held Power Five receivers in check while also putting up some stats to show for it.
A physical presence from the moment the ball is snapped, Simpson-Hunt rarely lets a receiver create separation, and in the rare moments it does happen, his track speed makes up for the lost ground in fractions of seconds.
A star on the track, Simpson-Hunt has a personal-best of 10.67 in the 100-meter and 21.77 in the 200-meter event. His verified speed stacks up not only with some of the speedier defensive backs around the country, but also with some of the quicker receivers that he will have to guard in the Big 10.
His length is also a standout trait as it allows him to fight through blockers and blow up screen and bubble plays before they can develop out of the backfield. His physicality also translates to the open field where he had multiple forced fumbles on ball carriers last season.
Simpson-Hunt projects as a 2-3-year starter at Ohio State in a defensive back room that features a lot of speed and physicality itself. However, it's Simpson-Hunt's physical profile that still has room for development that could see him take the next step as an all-conference type of player for the Buckeyes during his career.