"Most underrated recruit in the class" - CFB fans lose it as Ohio State lands 6'6" star by pipping Steve Sarkisian's Texas 

Ohio State added to its 2026 offensive line haul on Wednesday with the commitment of Phoenix tackle Aaron Thomas, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound three-star prospect who chose the Buckeyes over the Texas Longhorns, Florida State, Texas A&M and Washington.

Thomas, the No. 36 offensive tackle nationally per 247Sports, became the fourth offensive lineman in the Buckeyes' 2026 class, joining Sam Greer, Maxwell Riley and Tucker Smith. All four have committed since Tyler Bowen took over as offensive line coach in February.

Hayes Fawcett

@Hayesfawcett3

BREAKING: Class of 2026 OT Aaron Thomas has Committed to Ohio State, he tells me for @on3recruits​​The 6’6 305 OT from Phoenix, AZ chose the Buckeyes over Texas, Texas A&M, Florida State, & Washington ​“If (the shoe) fits”

Ryan Day and Co. offered Thomas in March. He took his official visit shortly before committing.

“Dude might be the most underrated recruit in the class. Great get,” one fan posted on social media X.

Jeremiah Smith's Cigar #2024NationalChamps

@JeremiahsCigar

Dude might be the most underrated recruit in the class. Great get​

“I guess cause FSU got a top 10 class rn you have to mention us but it's cool never heard of this dude,” another fan wrote.

Cj 2k

@Cj2k7777Cj

I guess cause FSU got a top 10 class rn you have to mention us but it's cool never heard of this dude​

“It does get pretty exhausting putting Sark in the locker so often,” another fan said.

Buckeye Irrationalist

@BuckeyeRational

It does get pretty exhausting putting Sark in the locker so often 😮‍💨​

“Ohio state is putting together a pretty good oline class,” one fan added.

OMAR LITTLE

@grad_omar

Ohio state is putting together a pretty good oline class​

Here are some more reactions from fans on X:

“Yeahhhh….Congrats young man, sincerely….But Texas wasn’t in on this recruitment!” one fan commented.

“@TylerBowen ain’t fu**ing around!! That’s his 4th OL in the 26 class since joining THE Ohio State in early Feb!” another fan wrote.

Steve Sarkisian pitches Texas as college football’s top total package

Steve Sarkisian has built a recruiting pitch around a simple claim: No program offers more. He cites back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, an SEC title in Year 1 and a No. 1 recruiting class as proof of momentum.

"Who is the one School that has gone to back-to-back CFP Playoffs and back-to-back semi-finals? Who is the one school in their first year in the SEC that went to the SEC Championships?" Sarkisian said on the "3rd and Longhorn" podcast.

ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ

@CodyCarpentier

- Who is the ONE School that has gone to back-to-back CFP Playoffs and back-to-back semi-finals​- Who is the ONE School in their first year in the SEC that went to the SEC Championships?​- Who has the MOST draft picks in the NFL Draft over the last two years?​- Who has had SIX Defensive Linemen drafted in the last 3 years?​- Who has had FIVE Running Backs drafted in the last 3 years?​- Who has had a Receiver taken in the first round in each of the last two years?​- Who, Last year, signed the No. 1 Class in the country, the year before that a Top 3 and the year before that a Top 5 Recruiting Class in the country?​- All the while that's occurring at a Top 5 Public Institution in the United States...​- All the while being part of an Athletic Department that has won 4 of the last 5 Directors Cups...​- But all the while you're doing it in the city of Austin, which, oh by the way is the largest city in the United States with No Pro Sports... No NFL, No NBA, No MLB, No NHL​So WHO is getting those NIL deals? WHO is the Pro Sports Team? ​It's the Fastest Growing Economy in the US.. Austin, Texas​@CoachSark dropped some absolute bars on @3rdandlonghorn this week!!! WOW!!!

Sarkisian highlighted player development through a steady pipeline to the NFL. He also touted the University of Texas as a top-five public institution, with academic resources often compared to Ivy League schools.

Nevertheless, Steve Sarkisian's program wants to be more than a contender; it wants to be the final destination.