The Ohio State Buckeyes continue building momentum in the 2026 recruiting cycle under new offensive line coach Tyler Bowen.

Bowen, who joined the Buckeyes earlier this year, has already secured three commitments and is aggressively targeting top-tier prospects.

One of the most coveted names on his radar is five-star interior lineman Darius Gray from St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia.

On Tuesday, Gray confirmed to BuckeyeHuddle.com that his relationship with Ohio State is rapidly developing — and Bowen is a big reason why.

“Things have progressed great (with Ohio State),” Gray said. “That was a school that I wanted to [officially visit], and once we knew that Coach Bowen [was filling the OL coaching position], we had to. We’ve created a great relationship over time.”

Gray, considered by some as the top interior offensive line prospect in the 2026 class, has longstanding ties to Bowen dating back to his time at Virginia Tech.

“We grew a relationship while he was at Virginia Tech and the time spent with him and the talks with him have been fantastic,” Gray added. “When I heard he was getting the job at Ohio State, I was fired up.”

Bowen’s familiarity with Gray could prove critical as the Buckeyes compete with top national programs for the elite lineman. The five-star recruit has yet to announce his official visit dates, but Ohio State appears to be firmly in the mix.

Gray is ranked as a top-10 overall prospect nationally by multiple recruiting outlets and is the No. 1 interior offensive lineman on several boards.

Ohio State is also in pursuit of other elite linemen in the 2026 class, but landing Gray would be a signature win early in Bowen’s tenure.

In essence, while the announcement of a starter is a significant step forward, the question of where they will line up and how they will impact Ohio State’s offense remains open. Fans and analysts will be watching closely as the season unfolds, eager to see how this decision shapes the Buckeyes’ path to success.