While the Ohio State Buckeyes continue to enjoy the success on a weekly basis, head coach Ryan Day has done a terrific job of maintaining this level of competitiveness through his efforts on the high school recruiting trail.
As of Nov 4, the Buckeyes rank as the No. 9 team in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports’ Composite. The highly-rated group includes 21 commits, with five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. highlighting the bunch.
However, Day unfortunately received some dreaded news earlier this week regarding one of his top commits within the 2026 cycle.
On Monday, Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett reported that 2026 three-star offensive tackle Aaron Thomas has decommitted from the program.
Thomas is currently the No. 8 player in the state of Arizona, as well as a top-50 offensive tackle in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports’ Composite.
His decision to decommit from the Buckeyes makes him the third prospect in Day’s upcoming class that has decommitted, along with four-star cornerback Jakob Weatherspoon and three-star tight end Corbyn Fordham.
Luckily for Day and the program, Ohio State has done an excellent job of recruiting multiple offensive tackles in the 2026 class, with four-star Ohio natives Sam Greer and Maxwell Riley included in the mix. Both commits are top-12 offensive tackles and top-10 players in the state of Ohio within the 2026 class.
In addition to possessing two well-rounded offensive linemen, the Buckeyes are also benefiting from the Penn State Nittany Lions’ recent firing of head coach James Franklin. 2026 four-star offensive tackle and Nittany Lion commit Kevin Brown could flip to Ohio State, according to a recent article from ESPN’s Craig Haubert, Eli Lederman, and Tom Luginbill.
“The Buckeyes and Mountaineers should be considered favorites if Brown ultimately signs elsewhere,” the trio wrote. "But the right coaching hire at Penn State could be all it takes to keep him in the program.”
Brown took an unofficial visit to Columbus during the team’s week 10 beatdown against Penn State, which should act as a huge boost for Day. The potential flip of Brown could also paint a better picture for fans on why Thomas decided to decommit from the Buckeyes, as Brown would then become the fourth offensive tackle commit.
Another prospect to keep an eye on for the Buckeyes - 2026 four-star interior offensive lineman Micah Smith. Ohio State was in a heated battle for the young talent this past summer for the talented linemen, but fell short as he committed to UCLA. But with the recent head coach firing with the fellow Big Ten member, Smith could find his way back to Columbus.