4-star IOL Max Riley commits to Ohio State

Avon Lake (Ohio) four-star interior offensive lineman Max Riley has committed to Ohio State, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

He chose the Buckeyes over Clemson. Over 20 other Power Four programs also offered the 6-foot-3.5, 265-pounder.

“First off, all the glory goes to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Thank you to my family, coaches, teammates, teachers, etc for all you have done for me throughout my life and during this recruiting process. As a kid from Avon Lake, Ohio it was always my goal to play for the world famous Ohio State Buckeyes. Thank you to Coach Day and Coach Bowen for believing in me. With that being said I’m grateful to announce I’m 100-percent committed to The Ohio State University,” Riley wrote on X.

Riley is the No. 133 overall prospect and No. 8 IOL in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Ohio.

Despite Clemson’s hot streak on the recruiting trail coming out of the weekend, Riley opted to stick with the in-state program rather than head to Death Valley. He’s been to Columbus myriad times throughout his process and becomes the fifth pledge in Ryan Day’s 2026 class.

“I’ve spoken to Coach (Tyler) Bowen quite a bit,” Riley told Lettermen Row earlier this month. “I really like him. He seems to be a guy who relates well to recruits and players. He told me he thinks we would mesh well and he continues to believe that I’m a good fit for the program.”

Riley becomes the second highest-ranked commit in OSU’s class, behind just Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., the No. 14 prospect and No. 2 WR in the nation. He’s also the second commit of the year for the Buckeyes, following Avon (Ohio) four-star athlete Jakob Weatherspoon, a top-200 recruit who pledged on Jan. 2.