The Buckeyes just added another key piece to their future roster. This week, Jordan Thomas, a four-star defensive back from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, announced his commitment to Ohio State as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
Thomas is ranked as the No. 17 defensive back in the 2026 class and the No. 2 player in New Jersey. This decision marks a critical moment for head coach Ryan Day, who has been working on rebuilding the program’s defense into one capable of dominating the Big Ten and competing for national titles.
4-Star Jordan Thomas Brings Fresh Hope to Ryan Day’s Defense
Jordan Thomas stands out as a four-star prospect. He’s the kind of player who can make an immediate impact in Ohio State’s competitive Big Ten.
He has already proven himself as a lockdown defensive back in high school. Bergen Catholic’s football team has 15 state titles and a national ranking as the third-best high school football team in the country by USA Today.
Bergen Catholic (NJ) 2026 4🌟 DB Recruit Jordan Thomas Has Announced His Commitment To Ohio State University
Thomas Is The #17 Ranked DB In Tje 2026 Class & #2 Ranked Player In NJ#GoCFB #CollegeFootball #OhioState #Buckeyes #GoBucks @jordanthomas_21 pic.twitter.com/C1YeLueWQ2
— CFB Nation 🏈 (@TheCFBNation) May 13, 2025
What makes Thomas such a valuable addition to Ohio State? That is evident in his skill set, which makes him stand out. As a defensive back, he’s known for speed, instincts, and the ability to read plays.
Under Ryan Day, the program’s secondary has been a focus for improvement, especially after inconsistent performances in previous seasons. With Thomas’s addition, Ohio State now has 13 verbal commitments in its 2026 recruiting class, which, according to Rivals, ranks third nationally.
Ryan took over as the head coach in 2019 after Urban Meyer’s retirement. His tenure started strong, with a perfect 12-0 regular season in his first year as full-time head coach. But the past few years have shown that while the Buckeyes’ offense remains explosive, their defense has sometimes struggled to keep up with top-tier opponents.
The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, exposed some of those weaknesses, even though the program still managed to win the Big Ten Championship against Northwestern.
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He has in the past clarified that building a championship-caliber defense is his priority; of course, recruiting players like Thomas is a big part of the plan. The Buckeyes already have some standout defensive backs, like Caleb Downs, who was voted the top defensive back in college football for 2025 by ESPN.
Adding Thomas to the mix allows Ohio State to create one of the most formidable secondaries in the Big Ten. The message is: The Big Ten should watch out, why? The Buckeyes’ defense just got a whole lot stronger.
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