Ohio State Eyes Rare Recruiting Feat with Five-Star Offensive Linemen in Play
COLUMBUS, Ohio - It’s been a while since Ohio State made a serious splash on the offensive line with a top-tier national recruit, but that could be changing - and fast.
When five-star interior lineman Maxwell Hiller named Ohio State in his top four schools, it wasn’t just another recruiting update. It signaled a potential turning point. The Buckeyes, already off to a strong start with their 2027 class, are now in the mix for not one, but two elite offensive line prospects - Hiller and fellow five-star tackle Mark Matthews.
This is where things get interesting.
Ohio State has three linemen already committed in the 2027 cycle - Kellen Wymer, Mason Wilt, and Brody McNeel - giving them a solid foundation. That early work has opened the door for offensive line coach Tyler Bowen and the Buckeyes to swing big. And they’re doing just that.
Hiller, out of Coatesville Area in Pennsylvania, is ranked as the No. 10 overall prospect in the country and the No. 1 interior lineman. Matthews, from Florida powerhouse St.
Thomas Aquinas, is even higher - the No. 2 overall player and the top-ranked offensive tackle in the class. These are the kind of prospects who don’t just start as freshmen - they anchor offensive lines and change the trajectory of a program.
Ohio State’s recent history with top-100, out-of-state offensive line recruits has been sparse. Since Ryan Day took over the program, only two such players have signed with the Buckeyes: Donovan Jackson (No. 19 overall, No. 1 tackle in his class) and Harry Miller.
Jackson, in particular, was a cornerstone of the class that helped deliver a national championship. That’s the kind of impact player Ohio State is chasing again.
The 2026 class saw Bowen bring in five offensive linemen in his first cycle, headlined by tackle Sam Greer - the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 6 tackle nationally. He was joined by four-star Maxwell Riley and three-stars Landry Brede, Tucker Smith, and Mason Wilhelm.
Notably, all but Smith - who hails from Arizona - were in-state recruits. That’s been the trend in recent years: solid linemen, mostly from Ohio, but few headline-grabbing national gets.
Take a look at the past few classes:
- In 2025, the highest-rated out-of-state OL signee was Jayvon McFadden (No. 391 overall).
- In 2024, it was Ian Moore (No. 168).
- In 2023, Miles Walker (No. 501).
- In 2022, Carson Hinzman (No. 177).
Solid players, sure. But not in the same tier as Hiller or Matthews.
That’s what makes this moment different. With the core of the 2027 offensive line class already in place, Bowen and the Buckeyes can afford to go all-in on the elite guys. And while landing both Hiller and Matthews might be a long shot, securing even one would be a massive win - both on the field and in the recruiting wars.
There’s no denying the Buckeyes have had some recent near-misses with big-time offensive line talent. Five-stars like David Sanders Jr., Jackson Cantwell, and Felix Ojo all came close but ultimately chose other programs. Still, that hasn’t stopped Ohio State from staying aggressive.
And they have reason to be. The 2026 offensive line is loaded with veteran experience, but that also means turnover is coming.
The 2027 class could be asked to step in early, and a player of Hiller’s or Matthews’ caliber could be a plug-and-play starter from day one. That kind of early impact - especially in the trenches - is rare, but not out of the question with players like these.
Beyond the on-field implications, landing a blue-chip lineman from outside Ohio would send a clear message: Ohio State isn’t just protecting its backyard - it’s back to being a national force on the offensive line recruiting trail.
For a program with championship aspirations, that’s exactly where it wants to be.