The winds of change have been blowing through Columbus this offseason, and Ohio State’s coaching staff is starting to take its final shape. With Brian Hartline heading south to take on his first head coaching gig, the Buckeyes have been actively reshuffling the offensive brain trust - and now, they've added another intriguing piece to the puzzle.
Arthur Smith Brings a Smashmouth Mentality
Arthur Smith, the former NFL head coach, is now officially running the show on offense for the Buckeyes. And if there’s one thing we know about Smith, it’s that he doesn’t shy away from running the football. His philosophy leans heavily on physicality - think downhill runs, play-action, and tight ends who don’t just catch passes but dig in and move defenders.
That shift in identity means Ohio State isn’t just tweaking its playbook - it’s reshaping its staff to match. If you're going to commit to a more run-heavy approach, you need coaches who can mold the right personnel and get the most out of them in the trenches. And that’s where the latest hire starts to make a lot of sense.
Thomas Morton Joins as Assistant Tight Ends Coach
The Buckeyes have brought in Thomas Morton as the new assistant tight ends coach. Morton, who most recently served as the quarterbacks coach at Samford, is viewed as a rising offensive mind in coaching circles. He’s young, sharp, and brings a fresh perspective to a position group that’s about to take on a much bigger role in the offense.
Morton will work alongside tight ends coach Keenan Bailey, and together they’ll be tasked with developing a group that’s expected to be pivotal in Smith’s offensive system. With two new tight ends arriving via the Transfer Portal, there's a real opportunity for Morton to make an immediate impact - both in refining technique and helping integrate these new additions into a system that will lean on them for both blocking and receiving duties.
Building a Balanced, Physical Offense
This isn’t just about adding bodies to the coaching staff - it’s about building a cohesive vision. Smith’s offense works best when the tight ends are versatile: capable of sealing the edge in the run game one play and slipping into soft zones for a chunk gain the next. Morton’s background as a quarterbacks coach gives him insight into route timing and offensive spacing, which could be a real asset in helping tight ends become more complete players.
And with the offensive line also expected to take on a larger load in the run game, the tight ends’ role as hybrid blockers and pass-catchers becomes even more vital. Morton’s development of that group could be one of the sneaky-important factors in how quickly this offense finds its rhythm under Smith.
Coaching Carousel Nearing a Stop
With Morton now in the fold and Cortez Hankton already brought in as wide receivers coach, Ohio State’s offensive staff looks just about set. On the defensive side, Matt Patricia appears to be staying put for another year - a stability move that should help maintain continuity on that side of the ball.
As Ryan Day looks to make the Buckeye offense more consistent and more physical in 2026, the pieces are starting to align. The coaching hires aren’t just names on a staff directory - they’re signals of a philosophical shift. With Smith steering the offense and Morton helping shape the tight ends, Ohio State is clearly gearing up to bring a more balanced, hard-nosed identity to the field this fall.