In-state safety Cody Haddad commits to Ohio State
COLUMBUS — Ohio State is off to a great start with its 2025 recruiting class, particularly with its defensive back class.
The Buckeyes added another one this spring. Three-star Cleveland (Ohio) St. Ignatius safety Cody Haddad has committed to Ohio State. Haddad committed to Wisconsin on Jan. 17 but earned his Ohio State offer two days after he pledged to the Badgers.
He is the No. 440 overall prospect and the No. 31 safety prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
The in-state prospect earned his Ohio State offer when he visited campus on Jan. 20.
Haddad is the second safety pledge in the class joining four-star Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic safety DeShawn Stewart.
His relationship with safeties coach Matt Guerrieri was the driving force behind both his decommitment from Wisconsin and ultimately his pledge to Ohio State.
“Coach Matt Guerrieri loved my film,” Haddad told Lettermen Row in February. “Me and him have a really good relationship. I went on my unofficial visit there in January and talked with him and head coach Ryan Day, and had a really good time down there.
“They offered me there and for me, it was kind of a shock. I was like ‘Wow I’ve been here two times and didn’t get shown any love the first two visits’ and then Coach G came in and kind of opened the eyes of the other coaches. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles loved my film and came to the school before that visit in January.”
The Buckeyes are still in pursuit of four-star Olney (Md) Good Counsel safety Faheem Delane, four-star Shaker Heights (Ohio) safety Trey McNutt and a few others.
Ohio State holds the No. 1 overall class in the On3 Industry Rankings.
Five-star Bellefontaine (Ohio) quarterback Tavien St. Clair, four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe and wide receiver De’Zie Jones, round out the class for Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have assembled a master class defensively.
Five-star Plus+ cornerback duo Na’eem Offord and Devin Sanchez, four-star cornerback Blake Woodby and four-star safety DeShawn Stewart make up the secondary.
Linebackers TJ Alford and Eli Lee, and edge rushers Zahir Mathis and London Merritt make up the front seven.
Should Cody Haddad sign his Letter of Intent with the Scarlet and Gray in December, he will be the first St. Ignatius player on scholarship since linebacker Tommy Eichenberg.
The Buckeyes are still piecing together their 2025 class, but they have added another major prospect to the fold. Cody Haddad has committed to Ohio State.
