The Last Time Ohio State Landed a Mississippi O-Lineman Was 1990. That Just Changed.

Caden Moss had already made up his mind earlier this week. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman from Jackson Academy just waited until Friday to tell the world on Instagram Live. When he did, Ohio State picked up one of the biggest commitments yet in its 2027 recruiting class.

Moss chose the Buckeyes over a final group that included LSU, Ole Miss, Oregon, Kentucky and Tennessee. That list alone tells you something. Moss is from Mississippi. SEC schools usually don’t lose those battles for elite trench guys in their own backyard.

ESPN has Moss ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect in the 2027 class and the No. 4 offensive tackle nationally. The 247Sports Composite puts him at No. 72 overall, No. 7 among offensive linemen and the No. 3 recruit in Mississippi. USA TODAY’s composite says No. 70 overall, No. 6 at his position. However you slice it, this is a massive get for Ryan Day’s staff.

How this fits into the bigger picture

Moss is commitment No. 16 for Ohio State in the 2027 cycle and the fifth since May 15. He’s also the sixth offensive lineman to pledge, joining Kellen Wymer, Jimmy Kalis, Mason Wilt, Davis Seaman and Brody McNeel. The expectation is Moss plays tackle, though he could slide inside to guard if needed.

This commitment carries some real weight for offensive line coach Tyler Bowen. Moss is the first top-300 out-of-state offensive lineman Bowen has signed with the Buckeyes. He was also Ohio State’s top remaining target on the line after Kalis committed back in April. So this is Bowen’s biggest win in Columbus so far.

Moss becomes the Buckeyes’ third five-star pledge in the 2027 class, alongside defensive end D.J. Jacobs and wide receiver Jamier Brown. Before Friday, Ohio State sat at No. 11 in ESPN’s team recruiting rankings. That number is about to climb.

What you should know about Caden Moss

He’s been a multi-year starter at Jackson Academy and helped lead the Raiders to an 11-1 record last season. That included an MAIS 4A-Division I championship, the school’s first state title since 2011. He also plays basketball (5.6 points, 5.1 rebounds per game as a junior) and does track and field, specifically the shot put. He’s already earned invitations to the Under Armour All-America Game and the Polynesian Bowl as an underclassman.

There’s also a little history here. If Moss signs with Ohio State, he’ll be only the second player from Mississippi to ever put on a Buckeyes uniform. The first was tight end Craig Robinson, who spent one season with the program in 1990. That’s it. Thirty-plus years of nothing from Mississippi, and now this.

He’d also be Ohio State’s highest-ranked offensive line addition since Paris Johnson Jr. in the 2020 class. Johnson went on to become a consensus All-American and a first-round NFL draft pick. That’s the kind of trajectory the Buckeyes are hoping Moss follows.