COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State secured a commitment last week from Aaron Thomas, a 5-star offensive tackle in the 2026 class, extending its strong run of offensive line additions.
Standing at 6-foot-7 and 300 pounds, Thomas is ranked No. 439 overall and No. 36 among tackles in the 247Sports composite rankings. He plays for Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix, Arizona, and picked the Buckeyes over Texas A&M, Florida State, and Washington.
Thomas offers the size and length that offensive line coach Tyler Bowen prioritizes. He has solid athleticism and physicality, plus a family football background – his father, Eric, played at Florida State in the late ‘90s.
Although there are areas of his game that will need development, Thomas has the foundational tools to become a top tackle at Ohio State.
“If I were an offensive lineman, I’d want to be at a school that develops me best,” his coach Jon Roberts told Cleveland.com before Thomas made his decision. “Aaron has elite measurables, and he’s focused on finding a place where he can build strong relationships with the coaching staff.”
His combination of size and athleticism strengthens a 2026 class that already features four-star linemen Maxwell Riley and Sam Greer, along with three-star Tucker Smith, another Arizona prospect. Riley is listed at 6-5, 280 pounds; Greer at 6-8, 315 pounds; and Smith at 6-5, 280 pounds, showing a clear type Bowen is recruiting for the line.
With Thomas and Greer, Ohio State now has two tackles in its class, and four offensive line commits overall in a 19-player class. While Smith and Riley project as interior linemen, this gives the Buckeyes flexibility to decide how they want to finish out their offensive line group with a fifth or sixth addition.
Remaining targets include Da’Ron Parks and Darius Gray for the interior, and J.B. Shabazz at tackle.
Thomas’ commitment brings stability to the class, allowing Ohio State to pursue any top remaining lineman without pressure. Adding another tackle to a roster already deep with interior options only strengthens the group.
Overall, with four offensive line commits already, Ohio State’s 2026 class has surpassed the total in its 2025 class, reflecting the effective recruiting work by Bowen and the Buckeye staff to build a deep, balanced offensive line unit.
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