Ohio State is working on building out its 2026 recruiting class, and the Buckeyes landed a significant piece to the puzzle on Monday night.

That building block comes in the form of Maxwell Riley, a massive in-state offensive lineman out of Avon Lake High School. Riley is one of the top prospects out of Ohio for the 2026 recruiting class and committed to Ryan Day and the Buckeyes over Clemson and Alabama among others.

“As a kid from Avon Lake, Ohio it was always my goal to play for the world-famous Ohio State Buckeyes,” Riley wrote on social media. “Thank you to Coach Day and (OL Coach Tyler) Bowen for believing in me. With that being said I’m grateful to announce I’m 100% committed to the Ohio State University!”

Riley is listed at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds and is rated as a 4-star prospect per the 247 Sports Composite. He checks in as the No. 4 player out of Ohio for the cycle and the 9th overall offensive tackle in the country for the class of 2026. Riley becomes an early win for Ohio State’s new offensive line coach entering the heart of 2025.

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Impact on OSU

So far, Ohio State is up to just 5 hard commitments for the 2026 recruiting class, a group that ranks 20th nationally at this point in the process. There is plenty of time to build to that group, and there’s no reason to expect another elite group as Day’s new-look coaching staff finds their footing.

All 5 commitments have a 4-star composite rating, and the group is currently headlined by 5-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., the No. 9 player in the country.