BOOM
Aaron Thomas becomes the fourth offensive lineman in Ohio State’s 2026 class.
Tyler Bowen has added another quality offensive tackle to Ohio State's 2026 recruiting class.
Three-star Arizona offensive tackle Aaron Thomas committed to the Buckeyes on Wednesday, giving OSU four offensive linemen committed in the current cycle and 17 commits overall.
O-H-I-O. Thatss the quote. #GoBucks #COMMITTED @OhioStateFB @ryandaytime @TylerBowen @Coach_Dickey @Coach__Fields @mjohnson7672 pic.twitter.com/05WSe0xQt5
— Aaron Thomas (@AaronEliThomas) June 26, 2025
The Thomas File
- Class: 2026
- Size: 6-7/300
- Pos: OT
- School: Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Arizona)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: #439 (#36 OT)
Thomas joins an already formidable group of offensive linemen committed to the Buckeyes, including Sam Greer, Maxwell Riley and Tucker Smith. He chose OSU over Texas A&M, Florida State, Washington and Texas. The Aggies were the biggest competition for the Buckeyes, but OSU held them off down the stretch despite A&M getting the final official visit.
Bowen had Thomas on his radar since March, when OSU offered him following a spring visit.
“It meant a lot because every year you see offensive linemen from Ohio State go to the NFL,” Thomas said of the offer. “It meant a lot to get offered by them.”
He took his official visit to Columbus on May 30, and the Buckeyes went all out in their pursuit, trying to add him to their 2026 class. It was that push that convinced Thomas to play for Bowen and OSU next season.
“It was a good visit, my parents and I really enjoyed it,” Thomas told Eleven Warriors following the trip. “I feel like they can help me develop into a first-round draft pick. I really like coach Tyler Bowen and coach Ryan Day. It was nice learning more about the school and the academic side and getting to hang around the players a little bit.
“(Coach Bowen) was just showing me what the plan was for me. The developmental part and how my game translated to what they do at Ohio State and their offense.”
Thomas is the son of Eric Thomas, who was former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke’s center in Tallahassee, playing for the Seminoles from 1995 to 1999.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | CHRIS HENRY JR. | ★★★★★ | #15 NATL | #3 WR | 6-5 | 205 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| S | BLAINE BRADFORD | ★★★★★ | #26 NATL | #3 S | 6-1 | 207 | Catholic (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) |
| LB | CINCERE JOHNSON | ★★★★ | #71 NATL | #8 Edge | 6-3 | 225 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| S | SIMEON CALDWELL | ★★★★ | #106 NATL | #6 LB | 6-3 | 185 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| WR | KAYDEN DIXON-WYATT | ★★★★ | #108 NATL | #13 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) |
| OT | SAM GREER | ★★★★ | #109 NATL | #7 OT | 6-6 | 310 | Archbishop Hoban (Akron, Ohio) |
| OT | MAXWELL RILEY | ★★★★ | #127 NATL | #8 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Avon Lake (Avon Lake, Ohio) |
| RB | FAVOUR AKIH | ★★★★ | #167 NATL | #14 RB | 6-0 | 190 | Rutherford B Hayes (Delaware, Ohio) |
| CB | JAKOB WEATHERSPOON | ★★★★ | #173 NATL | #15 S | 5-10 | 172 | Avon (Avon, Ohio) |
| CB | JORDAN THOMAS | ★★★★ | #176 NATL | #16 CB | 6-1 | 185 | Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) |
| DL | KHARY WILDER | ★★★★ | #241 NATL | #23 Edge | 6-4 | 260 | Junipero Serra (Gardena, California) |
| WR | JAEDEN RICKETTS | ★★★★ | #269 NATL | #45 WR | 6-0 | 187 | Watkins Memorial (Pataskala, Ohio) |
| LB | CJ SANNA | ★★★★ | #296 NATL| #19 LB | 6-3| 225 | Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio) |
| WR | BROCK BOYD | ★★★★ | #379 NATL | #58 WR | 6-2 | 183 | Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) |
| OT | AARON THOMAS | ★★★ | #439 NATL | #36 OT | 6-7 | 300 | Mountain Pointe (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| TE | CORBYN FORDHAM | ★★★ | #475 NATL | #23 TE | 6-3 | 215 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| OL | TUCKER SMITH | ★★★ | #647 NATL | #57 IOL | 6-5 | 280 | Sandra Day O'Connor (Phoenix, Arizona) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports Composite | |||||
Thomas gives OSU true offensive tackle profile
Ohio State fans will be all too familiar with Thomas' offseason trainer. During the winter, Thomas trains with former OSU standout LeCharles Bentley, whom he feels has made him a better offensive lineman.
“His training is intense,” Thomas said. “I feel like he’s one of the best trainers in America. He taught me a lot of things about like posture and the fundamentals of playing offensive line.”
Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Thomas is considered the No. 439 prospect in the 2026 class and the No. 36 offensive tackle.
“Probably my athleticism to get that edge in outside zone and block zone,” Thomas said of his best on-field ability.
At 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, Thomas has the makeup of a true offensive tackle and can be expected to stick outside at the collegiate level. Like most collegiate offensive linemen, Thomas will likely need at least a season or two of developmental time before being expected to contribute to the two-deep. But you can't teach size and frame and Thomas has both needed to thrive on the outside. He has the makings of a prospect who sees a ratings bump in his senior season and eventually earns four-star status before signing day and there's definitely starting upside here at the collegiate level.
