Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall.
The first offensive lineman to commit to Ohio State in the cycle, Max Riley was destined to be a Buckeye as the in-state prospect and lifelong OSU fan always wanted to eventually don the scarlet and gray.
Max Riley
- Size: 6-5/287
- Position: IOL
- School: Avon Lake (Avon Lake, Ohio)
- 247 Sports Composite: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #178 (#7 IOL)
Background
Riley was not only the first offensive lineman to commit in the class, but he was also the first one to receive an offer, as Ohio State offered the Avon Lake, Ohio, product in March 2023 following his freshman season.
“That was a surreal experience,” he said after receiving his OSU offer. “I grew up an Ohio State fan and always watched them on Saturdays with my dad and grandpa. Finally getting to meet them in person and experience that was pretty cool. He wanted to offer me because of my potential.”
Riley took many visits to Columbus, including for Ohio State's home opener in 2023, the first Buckeye game he had ever been to. While the Buckeyes hired offensive line coach Tyler Bowen in February 2025, someone Riley admitted he didn't really know before he joined the Buckeyes' coaching staff, Riley committed to Ohio State less than a month later over the likes of Clemson and many others.
Riley rotated between starting at left and right tackle (primarily on the left side) during his freshman season, helping Avon Lake to a 9-3 record in 2022. He recorded nearly 40 pancakes during his first high school season, reminding him of his idol and former Buckeye Orlando Pace.
“Definitely Orlando Pace,” Riley said when asked about his OSU idol. “He’s one of the greatest offensive linemen of all-time, in my opinion. He invented the pancake.”
He then started at left tackle for his final three high school seasons, anchoring the Shoremen's offensive line. As a senior, Riley was named the Paris Johnson Jr. Foundation Offensive Lineman of the Year, which recognized his “exceptional commitment to the sport of football, his dedication and performance in the classroom, and his active service to the community.”
Off the football field, Riley showcased his strength in track and field. As a junior, he finished fifth in the OHSAA shot put finals during both the outdoor and indoor seasons with a best throw of 56 feet, 7.25 inches. He also excelled in discus with a personal-best throw of 158 feet.
Scouting Report
At 6-foot-5 and 287 pounds, Riley already has a good-sized frame to build on as he develops at the college level.
Time and time again, Riley showcased his ability to finish blocks and pancake opponents. He is a great run blocker and improved as a pass blocker during his time at Avon Lake, especially as a senior. With an outstanding work ethic and motor to go along with above-average foot speed and effective use of hands, Riley will only improve with better technique and development at Ohio State.
That said, Avon Lake head coach Matt Kostelnik has praised Riley's skill set ever since he started as a freshman, and he has only improved since.
“He’s got some of the best footwork I’ve ever seen out of a kid his size,” Kostelnik told Eleven Warriors in 2023. “We knew there was a lot of potential there. He does O-line specific stuff a couple of times a week, whether it’s with us or a trainer. He’s a shot put thrower. When (OSU offensive lineman) coach (Justin) Frye came in and asked me what I thought, I told him I can run outside zone effectively and consistently for the first time as a head coach. I hadn’t been able to do it before. But we can run to Max’s side. That’s the kids ability to get his hips going downfield, get his hands on people and finishes. He’s the nicest kid off the field, he has five siblings, but he puts that helmet on and a lot of hate comes out of that heart that you didn’t think was there.”
Depth Chart Outlook
With four starting offensive linemen from last season returning and the top six (or so) linemen locked in heading into the 2026 season, it's very unlikely that Riley will play any significant snaps as a freshman. That said, he and Sam Greer are very likely the only two freshmen offensive linemen who have a chance to make the two-deep, which is quite a feat for a first-year player at Ohio State, especially at that position.
Although he started at both left and right tackle at Avon Lake, he’s expected to play on the inside as a Buckeye after practicing at guard this spring. With that, he’ll have a chance to compete for a starting spot in 2027, as left guard Luke Montgomery is entering his senior season while it remains uncertain who will start at right guard in 2026.
Player Comparison: Donovan Jackson
Better Know A Buckeye
A high school left tackle like Riley, Jackson moved to left guard at Ohio State, where he spent most of his career before moving to left tackle due to injuries during Ohio State's national championship-winning season in 2024.
Jackson was more highly rated (the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and a five-star recruit in the 2021 class), and played in all 13 games as a freshman. Meanwhile, Riley will likely take more time to see the field, but their skill sets and do-it-all ability on the offensive line are similar.
Jackson was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten performer who was also a first-team All-American in 2024. The 6-4, 320-pound lineman became a starter in his second season with the Buckeyes and never looked back. He was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft by the Minnesota Vikings and is now entering his second NFL season.
