Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s momentum on the 2026 recruiting trail is building, and the Buckeyes may be on the verge of adding another significant piece to their secondary. Four-star cornerback Jordan Thomas out of New Jersey is set to announce his college decision tomorrow, Monday at 2:30 p.m., choosing from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Texas A&M, and Auburn. Buckeye Nation has reason to feel confident heading into the final stretch.
Thomas, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back, has visited Columbus twice this spring and is widely believed to be leaning toward Ohio State. Tim Walton, Ohio State’s secondary coach, has made Thomas a top priority in the 2026 cycle, and landing him would mark Walton’s second cornerback commitment in the class—an encouraging sign for a unit that continues to emphasize elite coverage talent. Thomas has spoken highly of his conversations with Ohio State’s staff, noting that he’s being recruited to start at corner with the potential to eventually move inside to nickel or star. His commitment would pair him with Jakob Weatherspoon to give the Buckeyes a formidable duo in the secondary for years to come.
Meanwhile, Ohio State is firmly in the mix for another in-state standout. Four-star linebacker Cincere Johnson, a key target out of Cleveland Glenville, announced a top three of Ohio State, Alabama, and Penn State. Johnson has long been on the Buckeyes’ radar and is well-connected to the program. He’s close friends with current Buckeye linebacker and fellow Glenville alum Arvell Reese and is expected to take his official visit to Columbus the weekend of June 13—coinciding with Ohio State commit CJ Sanna’s visit. Sanna has already said he’ll be working to recruit Johnson personally during that trip. With deep ties to the program and plenty of mutual interest, Ohio State is in an excellent spot heading into Johnson’s decision timeline, likely to conclude after his summer visits.
That same weekend, another Tarblooder will be on campus: three-star defensive tackle Jamir Perez. The 6-foot-4, 360-pound lineman received an offer from defensive line coach Larry Johnson during Ohio State’s spring game and has since elevated the Buckeyes to the top of his list. While he’ll also take official visits to Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, and Iowa State, there’s growing optimism that he could follow in the footsteps of Witten, West, and Reese and continue the Glenville-to-Columbus pipeline.
On the offensive line front, the Buckeyes are still in pursuit of top-tier trench talent. Four-star Texas offensive tackle Samuel Roseborough released his top five schools this week: Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida State, and LSU. While Roseborough has visits scheduled with all but the Buckeyes, that could shift soon if Ohio State pushes to stay in serious contention. Offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has been active in targeting high-level linemen who can play multiple positions, and Roseborough fits that mold. If a visit to Columbus is arranged, Ohio State could become a real contender instead of just another option.
With multiple high-profile prospects trending toward the Buckeyes and key official visits looming, Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class could see a major boost in the coming weeks. Tim Walton, in particular, stands to reinforce his position as a top recruiter if he’s able to secure a commitment from Jordan Thomas, which would be his second cornerback addition for the class.
