Ohio State’s 2028 recruiting class already has some obvious headliners, but the Buckeyes may also be building something right down the road on the defensive line.
Thomas Minor, a 6-foot-4 interior lineman from Big Walnut in Sunbury, has emerged as a name to know for Ohio State. The Rivals Industry Ranking lists him as the No. 470 overall prospect and the No. 48 defensive lineman, and his profile keeps rising because of the kind of raw force he brings to the field.
“That physicality,” Big Walnut coach Curtis Crager said, when asked about the best parts of Minor’s game. “He’s explosive, he’s still learning how to play the game, but he can eat up blocks so our linebackers can run free and he’s only getting better...
But he is a phenomenal player. The sky is the limit for this kid.”
Minor’s size is part of the story, too. Crager put him at about 290 pounds, while Minor said he’s closer to 310.
Either way, he looks the part of a college interior lineman, and the strength shows up quickly. In Big Walnut’s win over Dublin Coffman last Friday, he moved all over the defensive front and made life miserable for the opposing offense.
That versatility is one reason Ohio State has such a clear vision for him. Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson sees him as an interior player at the next level, but Minor’s current value is broader than that. He can line up inside, slide outside, and handle work from left to right along the front.
“One of the strongest kids I’ve ever had,” Crager said. “I can see him being on the edge too.
Now he can be in the middle. But man, we put him on the edge and it’s just like, ‘Watch out.’”
Minor said he talks with Johnson every day, and he already understands what makes Ohio State appealing. He’s been an Ohio State fan his whole life, he’s been watching former Buckeyes defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, and he likes the idea of fitting into a front that can use him in multiple ways.
“Anywhere you need me, I can go,” he began with a big grin. “I’ll go to offense, I’ll go to safety, you can put me anywhere.”
That kind of flexibility matters. Minor can work as a true nosetackle, occupy blockers and open lanes for linebackers.
He can play as a three-technique and attack gaps. He can even move to end in a 3-4 look that blends run defense and pass rush.
For now, he isn’t rushing anything. He said there’s no timeline on a decision, and he plans to take multiple visits to Ohio State this fall for gameday trips.
“Just a good group of staff, good guys to be around, good coaches, good players,” Minor said of what he’s looking for. “Because at the end of the day, they’re your family. You’re going to be with them for three, four years, so you’re going to be with them a long time.”
The Buckeyes already have star power at the top of their 2028 class, including five-star receiver Jett Harrison, five-star quarterback Christopher Vargas, top 100 running back Elijah Newman-Hall and in-state defensive lineman Jameer Whyce, who ranks inside the top 30. But the success of the class will also depend on how the three- and four-star prospects develop, and Minor could end up being one of the biggest pieces in that group.
Ohio State’s 2027 haul is also expected to bring a wave of talent, with two five-stars and two other four-stars, and pairing Whyce with Minor could give the Buckeyes a strong defensive line group from close to home.
That said, this recruitment is not staying local just yet. Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State have all offered, and Minor’s name is beginning to travel well beyond Ohio.
Even so, Ohio State has a real shot to keep this one in the backyard. And if Minor keeps growing the way he has, he may end up as one of the best defensive linemen in the country.
“He’s got to use his hands better,” Crager said of the next steps for Minor. “I think once he gets into that game shape, that’s when you’re going to see even better things from him.”
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