Ohio State Adds Thomas Morton to Offensive Staff, Cracks Top 7 for 2027 CB Jaden Carey
The Buckeyes are continuing to fine-tune their coaching staff ahead of spring ball, and the latest addition brings a fresh face to the tight ends room. Thomas Morton is set to join Ohio State as the assistant tight ends coach, stepping into a support role alongside Keenan Bailey, who has led the unit since 2023 and has been with the program since 2016.
Morton arrives in Columbus after a year as the quarterbacks coach at Samford in 2025. His coaching journey has been a steady climb through the college ranks, including stints as a quarterback analyst at Auburn from early 2024 into 2025 and a graduate assistant position at Troy prior to that. He also held a quality control role at Auburn in 2022-2023, working primarily with wide receivers but also assisting with tight ends.
A Southern Miss graduate, Morton brings a diverse offensive background to the table. His experience working with quarterbacks, wideouts, and tight ends across multiple programs in the South should provide valuable perspective as Ohio State continues to evolve its offensive identity.
Buckeyes in the Mix for 2027 CB Jaden Carey
On the recruiting trail, the Buckeyes are already planting seeds for the 2027 class-and one name to watch is Jaden Carey. The cornerback out of powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) has named Ohio State in his top seven schools, alongside Florida, Auburn, Notre Dame, Miami, Oregon, and Ole Miss.
Carey is currently ranked as the No. 356 overall prospect and the No. 38 cornerback in the 247Sports composite. While that puts him outside the elite five-star range for now, his pedigree and potential are clear.
St. Thomas Aquinas has been a talent factory for years, and Carey’s inclusion of Ohio State shows the Buckeyes are still a major draw for top-tier defensive backs-even in a crowded field of contenders.
Buckeye Football Calendar: Key Dates to Know
As the offseason rolls on, the countdown to kickoff is officially underway. Here’s a look at the key dates that will shape the next several months in Columbus:
- NFL Scouting Combine: 13 days away (Feb. 23 - March 2)
- First Spring Practice: 28 days away (March 10)
- Spring Game at Ohio Stadium: 67 days away (April 18)
- NFL Draft: 72 days away (April 23-25)
- Big Ten Media Days: 168 days away (July 28-30)
- Season Opener vs. Ball State: 207 days away (Sept.
- **The Game vs.
Michigan**: 291 days away (Nov. 28)
- Big Ten Championship Game: 298 days away (Dec. 5)
- College Football Playoff First Round: 311 days away (Dec. 18-19)
- CFP Quarterfinals: 323 days away (Dec. 30 - Jan.
- CFP Semifinals: 338 days away (Jan.
14-15)
- National Championship Game: 349 days away (Jan.
With the coaching staff nearly set and recruiting heating up, Ohio State is laying the groundwork for another high-stakes season. The next 11 months will be a grind-but in Columbus, the expectation is always the same: win now, and win big.