Ryan Day has already secured a total of 10 commits in Ohio State’s 2027 class, including five-star recruits like EDGE David Jacobs and wide receiver Jamier Brown. The Buckeyes got another big offensive boost on Friday in the 2027 cycle.
Ryan Day Secures Four-Star Offensive Tackle in the 2027 Class
Four-star offensive tackle Jimmy Kalis committed to Ohio State’s 2027 class on Friday. He chose Day’s program over Georgia, Clemson, LSU, and Texas. He also received offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others.
Kalis is an NFL legacy recruit, as his father, Todd, played eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. His recruitment was heavily tracked throughout the process, totaling 44 visits to different programs.
Ohio State first offered Kalis in March 2025, and he quickly built a strong relationship with the staff in Columbus. He visited the Buckeyes approximately 10 times during his recruitment and was last on campus less than three weeks before his decision.
“Coaching staff, development, and the culture!” Kalis told Rivals about choosing Ohio State. “Ohio State is high on my list because they have been consistent with me since day one. They develop the offensive line at a high level and take pride in getting players to the next level.
“I’d say definitely the development is elite there. Their culture is unmatched by other programs, and my relationships with the coaches! My sister currently attends OSU and just the resources Columbus has is elite.”
Kalis plays at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he helped lead the team to the 2025 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A state championship game during his junior season. He earned first-team All-State honors from the Pennsylvania Football Writers and is ranked as the No. 25 offensive tackle nationally by the Rivals Industry Ranking.
“He’s played really well throughout his career with us,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier said about Kalis. “He’s a great kid who is so focused on what he wants, and he’s worked so hard towards that. He’s been a delight to coach, and I hope all of our kids are able to reach their max potential. For guys like Jimmy to have this opportunity, I couldn’t be more happy for him.”
Kalis is also listed as the No. 287 overall prospect in the country and the No. 9 player in Pennsylvania.
If Kalis remains committed through National Signing Day, he will be a significant addition to Ohio State’s offense, which posted a 90.9 rating in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metric last season.
Kalis is the fourth offensive lineman to join Ohio State’s 2027 class, which ranks No. 5 in the nation and No. 2 in the conference. He joins fellow 2027 line commits Kellen Wymer, Brody McNeel, and Mason Wilt. While some sources categorize Kalis as the first pure offensive tackle by certain industry standards, McNeel is also listed as an offensive tackle.
