COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State football program is expected to sign four-star safety Cody Haddad during the early signing period for the 2024 recruiting class, which lasts from Dec. 4-6. Learn more about this member of the Buckeyes’ recruiting class with this profile.
Cody Haddad
School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
Position: Safety
Height, weight: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
247Sports rating: Four-star prospect rated the No. 25 athlete and 14th-best recruit in Ohio. 247Sports composite’s No. 415 player nationally.
Other offers: Ball State, Boston College, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kent State, Liberty, UMass, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Purdue, Texas A&M, Toledo, Wisconsin.
What’s his deal?
Cody Haddad was once a Wisconsin commit. But shortly thereafter, the Buckeyes got involved and things took a turn.
Just a few days after he committed to the Badgers, the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship and kept on the case. Just a few months later, he decommitted from Wisconsin and pledged to Ohio State on April 13.
Haddad’s recruitment certainly could have taken a quicker trip to the top, as he missed the majority of last season with an injury. It held him to just a handful of games, which kept a lid on his recruitment. The Buckeyes are looking for there to be more untapped potential, and room for growth.
The Buckeyes, if they’re right in their evaluation, could have a player that might’ve had a larger recruitment had he been healthy in his junior season.
His outlook at Ohio State
Haddad is set to play safety at Ohio State, but one of the words that was used — as for all safeties committed to the Buckeyes — is versatility.
The Buckeyes like being able to move their secondary members around, and that includes to the nickel position, and to the back-end of the defense. Haddad should have the versatility to do all that at Ohio State.
Considering the depth on the back-end at Ohio State, especially at the top for the 2025 season, it’ll be hard for him to find the field. Caleb Downs is set to return, then Jayden Bonsu and Malik Hartford figure to fit into the. mix. Then there’s true freshmen Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker, not to mention other safeties in the class.
But Haddad is on an upward trajectory, and could contribute on special teams down the line.