Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Josh Keatley

Ohio State football class of 2023 scouting report: Calvin Simpson-Hunt

The Ohio State football recruiting class of 2023 is complete and despite some murmurs of negativity in the crowd, this class is fantastic from top to bottom. One of the studs of this class is a four-star cornerback out of Texas, Calvin Simpson-Hunt.

Hunt is widely viewed as a top 90 prospect in the class of 2023 and a top ten cornerback in the class. The defensive backfield is a bit of a question mark considering how lackluster they were last season, but Simpson-Hunt has the skills to see the field early and often, and we will explore why below.

Buy Buckeyes Tickets

Name: Calvin Simpson-Hunt

High School: Waxahachie (Waxahachie, TX)

Height: 6-feet

Weight: 175 pounds

4-Star Cornerback

Strengths

Breaking It All Down

Calvin Simpson-Hunt brings a lot to the table and the first things that pop off on his tape are his pure speed, size, and strength. Simpson-Hunt is one of the more athletic players in this class and has the vertical to compete for jump balls.

The trait that impresses me the most is his already-refined technique. He shows a ton of patience and understands how to utilize the sideline and properly jam at the line of scrimmage and that is pretty rare for a young guy.

Weaknesses

Breaking It All Down

Expectations are high for these incoming defensive backs to see the field early and often. This is less of a weakness and more of a warning to temper expectations. Simpson-Hunt is further along technically than most incoming freshmen and he could see some time as a freshman, but he needs to continue to develop to be a reliable Big Ten starter. Expecting Simpson-Hunt to start as a freshman is unfair, but he should be ready as a sophomore.

 

Comparison: Shaun Wade

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Shaun Wade’s legacy as a Buckeye is complicated, but after redshirting in 2017, he played a vital role the next three seasons before heading to the NFL. Wade was All-Big Ten in 2019 and 2020 and was also an All-American and named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2020. Wade was drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens and is currently with the New England Patriots.

Both Calvin Simpson-Hunt and Shaun Wade have ideal length and both play extremely physical which allows them to excel at the line of scrimmage and in the run game. Wade was a vital piece of the Ohio State defense for three seasons and I expect Simpson-Hunt to have the same impact.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.