Ohio State has landed its next Will Kacmarek.
Former Ohio tight end Mason Williams committed to the Buckeyes on Sunday, bolstering Ohio State’s tight end depth following Kacmarek’s graduation and Jelani Thurman’s move to the transfer portal.
— Mason Williams (@WilliamsMason87) January 4, 2026
The Williams File
- Year: Senior
- Size: 6-5/257
- Pos: TE
- Previous School: Ohio (2023-25)
- 2025 Stats: 26 catches, 276 yards, 3 TD
A native of Mogadore, Ohio — a suburb near Akron with a population of 3,819 — Williams signed with Ohio as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class. He ranked as the No. 77 tight end and the No. 1,804 overall prospect nationally, according to the 247Sports composite.
A third-team All-MAC selection in 2025, Williams hauled in 48 receptions for 565 yards and six touchdowns over three seasons with the Bobcats, but his primary value came as a physical presence in the run game. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, Ohio leaned on Williams to move bodies more than run routes. According to Pro Football Focus, 673 of his 1,133 career snaps came as a run blocker. He posted a 62.9 grade across 320 snaps as a sophomore in 2024 and a 62.2 grade on 321 snaps as a junior in 2025.
After announcing last week that he would enter the transfer portal, Williams visited Ohio State on Saturday and told Lettermen Row he loved tight ends coach Keenan Bailey and everything about the Buckeyes.
“I mean it was awesome,” Williams said. “Coach Kee’s a great guy, super energetic. Honestly, I can’t ask for much more in a coach.”
With Max Klare still deciding whether he will enter the 2026 NFL draft, Williams joins an Ohio State tight end room that will feature redshirt senior Bennett Christian alongside redshirt sophomore Max LeBlanc, sophomore Nate Roberts, redshirt freshman Brody Lennon and freshman Nick Lautar, a three-star recruit in the 2026 class.
Ohio has an ascending talent in TE Mason Williams (@WilliamsMason87).
— Bryan (@BGauvin23) June 18, 2025
The Mogadore, Ohio, native earned FWAA 2024 Freshman All-America honors after posting 19 catches for 211 yards and 2 TDs. I fully expect his role to expand as his career progresses.#OUohyeah #MACtion pic.twitter.com/KbSDX8DXa1
It’s the second time Ohio State has added a tight end transfer from Ohio University in three years, as Kacmarek transferred to Ohio State from Ohio in 2024, spending the last two years with the Buckeyes as one of their top two tight ends.
Williams is Ohio State’s first transfer addition for the 2026 season.
