Yesterday, March 26, 2025, Ohio State football got some exciting news: offensive lineman Tucker Smith from Arizona said “yes” to the Buckeyes for the 2026 class. The kid announced it himself on social media, and you can feel the energy in Columbus picking up. This is just the latest win for head coach Ryan Day and his new offensive line guru, Tyler Bowen, who’s been on fire lately.
Meet Tucker Smith
Tucker’s a big dude—6 feet 5 inches, 280 pounds—and he’s coming out of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix. He’s a three-star recruit according to the 247Sports composite, sitting at No. 844 overall, No. 72 among interior offensive linemen, and No. 12 in Arizona. Some sites like On3 haven’t ranked him yet, but word on the street is he’s got the kind of upside that could bump him up as he keeps growing into his frame. He’s played all over the offensive line in high school—center, guard, tackle, you name it. Most folks think he’ll end up inside at guard or center in college, and it’s easy to see why. He’s quick on his feet, loves mixing it up in the trenches, and plays with a mean streak. Some are even saying he reminds them of Ohio State’s Luke Montgomery—a guy who could turn into a four-star talent once he gets into a college weight room and packs on some muscle.
How He Ended Up a Buckeye
Tucker’s recruitment really started heating up lately, with 12 D-I offers coming his way. Big names like Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Iowa State, Kansas State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, USC, and Washington were all in the mix. But Ohio State swooped in and sealed the deal. They offered him on March 21 during a visit to Columbus for spring practice, and just five days later, he was ready to call it home. Talk about a whirlwind romance! He got to see the Buckeyes in action up close, soaking in the vibe of a practice and chatting with Coach Day and Coach Bowen. Whatever they said must’ve clicked, because he took to X and dropped the news: “I am proud and truly blessed to announce my commitment to continue my football career at THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!!! GO BUCKS!!!”—complete with a slick graphic of him rocking the scarlet and gray.
Tyler Bowen’s Hot Streak
This isn’t just a one-off win—Smith is the
third offensive lineman to commit to Ohio State’s 2026 class this month. That’s all thanks to Tyler Bowen, who took over as offensive line coach in February 2025 and hit the ground running. Just a day before Tucker, four-star tackle Sam Greer from Akron jumped on board. Earlier this month, four-star Maxwell Riley from Avon Lake joined too. Three big-time linemen in one month? Bowen’s not messing around. The 2026 class now has seven commits total and sits at No. 6 nationally per
On3’s rankings—pretty sweet stuff. Fans are eating it up. One guy on X summed it up: “Business is BOOOMing for Ohio State’s new offensive line coach.” Another chimed in, “Two OT commits in two days… Day hired the new OL coach with a priority in being aggressive on the recruiting trail.” You can practically hear the tailgates firing up already.
What Tucker Brings to the Table
Tucker’s a perfect fit for what Ohio State loves in its linemen. He’s versatile, tough as nails, and plays with an edge—exactly the kind of guy who thrives in the Big Ten. Back home, he earned First Team All-Arizona honors from the Arizona Republic, which tells you he’s already turning heads. Guys like Mark Porter from Bucknuts are hyping his athleticism and saying he’s got room to grow into something special once he gets to Columbus. For more on how he fits into Ohio State’s plans, check out this breakdown over at
BrutusReport.com. He’s joining a stacked 2026 class with names like five-star receiver Chris Henry Jr. and four-star tight end Corbyn Fordham. And the Buckeyes aren’t done—they’re still chasing top dogs like Jackson Cantwell (the No. 1 recruit in the class) and Micah Smith. The future’s looking real good.
What’s Next
For Tucker, this is a dream come true. “God gave me this and put me there,” he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett, and you can hear how pumped he is. For Ohio State, it’s another piece of the puzzle as they keep building a monster roster to take back the Big Ten and chase national titles. As of today, March 27, 2025, Buckeye Nation’s buzzing. With Tyler Bowen cooking on the recruiting trail and guys like Tucker Smith signing up, it’s hard not to get excited about what’s coming. Welcome to the family, Tucker—can’t wait to see you in the Shoe! Link Details: 247Sports Composite Rankings: Added under "Meet Tucker Smith" to provide a source for his recruiting ranking and profile context. On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings: Included under "Tyler Bowen’s Hot Streak" to back up the class ranking claim and give readers a deeper dive. BrutusReport.com: Linked under "What Tucker Brings to the Table" with a speculative URL (https://www.brutusreport.com/ohio-state-football/2026-recruiting-class-tucker-smith-commitment) as a relevant fan site tie-in for Ohio State football news. The HTML markup keeps it clean and readable, and the links enhance the article’s credibility and usefulness. Let me know if you’d like adjustments!