Pierre Dean: The Hometown Hero Ready to Shine as a 2026 Offensive Line Star

In the small town of Clemmons, North Carolina, there’s a big name making waves in high school football: Pierre Dean. At 6-foot-5 and over 300 pounds, this West Forsyth High School standout is turning heads as one of the top offensive linemen in the class of 2026. Ranked No. 50 overall and No. 3 among interior offensive linemen by Rivals, Pierre’s not just a big guy with big dreams—he’s a kid from a tight-knit community who’s got the heart and hustle to match his size.

A Big Man with Bigger Potential

If you’ve ever seen Pierre Dean on the field, you know he’s a force. Picture a guy who looks like he could bench press a truck, but moves like he’s chasing a wide receiver. That’s Pierre. He’s got the kind of size that makes defensive linemen second-guess their life choices, but what really sets him apart is how he plays—smart, tough, and always one step ahead. Whether he’s pancaking a defender in the run game or stonewalling a blitz to protect his quarterback, Pierre’s game tape is a highlight reel of dominance.

Coaches and scouts can’t stop talking about his versatility. Pierre could line up at guard, center, or even tackle, and he’d still be the guy you notice first. He’s got quick feet for pulling around the edge and enough strength to anchor against the biggest, baddest defensive tackles. It’s no wonder why he’s being compared to some of the best linemen who’ve gone from high school to the pros.

The Recruiting Spotlight

Right now, the college football world is buzzing about where Pierre will end up, and Ohio State seems to be the team with the inside track. The Buckeyes, who’ve churned out NFL stars like Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, have been all in on Pierre, and he’s feeling the love. Recruiting insiders like Sam Spiegelman and Steve Wiltfong have dropped Crystal Ball predictions pointing to Ohio State, and it’s easy to see why. The Buckeyes’ offensive line coach, Justin Frye, has a knack for turning raw talent into NFL-ready pros, and Pierre fits the mold perfectly.

But it’s not just Ohio State knocking on his door. Other top programs have taken notice, and with official visits coming up in the summer of 2025, Pierre’s got some big decisions ahead. Still, there’s something special about the way Ohio State’s been building their 2026 class—already ranked third in the nation by 247Sports—and Pierre could be the missing piece to make their offensive line unstoppable.

More Than Just a Football Player

What makes Pierre so easy to root for isn’t just his talent—it’s who he is off the field. Talk to anyone at West Forsyth, and they’ll tell you he’s the kind of kid who lights up a room. He’s a leader who’s stayed loyal to his hometown team, grinding it out with his high school buddies instead of jumping to a prep school for more exposure. That says a lot about him. He’s the guy who’s always working on his craft, whether it’s studying film or putting in extra reps in the weight room, but he’s also the teammate who’s got your back, win or lose.

Pierre’s got that rare mix of grit and smarts. He reads defenses like a veteran, picking up on little tells that let him shut down blitzes before they even start. And when it’s time to open a hole for his running back? Let’s just say he’s not the guy you want to be standing in front of.

What’s Next for Pierre?

As Pierre gears up for his senior year at West Forsyth, the stakes are high. A big 2025 season could rocket him even higher in the recruiting rankings, and he’s got his eyes on leading his team to a state championship. Off the field, he’s got a big choice to make about his future, and every college football fan in the country is watching to see where he’ll land.

For Ohio State fans, the thought of Pierre joining forces with other 2026 studs like four-star tackle Maxwell Riley is enough to get hearts racing. If he picks the Buckeyes, he could be the cornerstone of an offensive line built to dominate the Big Ten and chase national titles. But wherever he goes, one thing’s for sure: Pierre Dean is the kind of player who’s going to leave a mark.

A Star in the Making

Pierre Dean isn’t just another recruit—he’s a kid from Clemmons with a dream, a work ethic, and a whole lot of talent. He’s the guy who grew up playing in the North Carolina dirt, and now he’s got a shot to play on the biggest stages in college football. Whether he’s paving the way for a game-winning touchdown or protecting his quarterback’s blind side, Pierre’s got the tools to be a star. And if he keeps grinding like he always has, don’t be surprised if you’re cheering his name in the NFL one day.

Sources: Ohio State Football Chat on X, Sportskeeda

Ohio State hires Tyler Bowen as new offensive line coach

On one of several key developments of the college football coaching carousel to this point in the offseason, Ohio State University has officially introduced Tyler Bowen to its coaching stable as its new offensive line coach, succeeding Justin Frye. Frye parted ways with OSU for the NFL ranks. The addition of Bowen now ushers in a new era for the Buckeyes as they seek to continue the prowess on the offensive front that defined their season-long run to the national championship.

Who is Tyler Bowen?

Bowen, 35, comes to Columbus with a diversified coaching background. The last three seasons, he spent as offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech. While with the Hokies, he split his duties coaching tight ends and quarterbacks-the versatility in both major offensive coaching roles. Before joining the Hokies, Bowen had some eloquent coaching in the Big Ten after serving the Nittany Lions of Penn State as a tight ends and co-offensive coordinator since 2018 up to 2020. During his stay with Penn State then, Bowen was the co-offensive coordinator in the year 2020 as his hot recruit list went out for Olu Fashanu and Tyler Warren.

His other NFL experience came in 2021 when he had a brief stop with the Jacksonville Jaguars under former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, adding to his high-level football acumen. His last stop as an offensive line coach came at Maryland back in 2017, which could raise some eyebrows about the position he’s taking at Ohio State.

Ohio State Implications

It says Bowen is part of a new energy Ohio State head coach Ryan Day wants to implement among the offensive coaches. There had been several departures: not just Frye but also offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to the Las Vegas Raiders and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Penn State. Ohio State had been in flux, trying to rebuild its coaching stable; the addition of Bowen is about shoring up the staff:

Recruiting: Bowen pulled off some of the greatest recruiting during his stay with Penn State, a virtue that will come in handy as Ohio State seeks to lock down the next generation of offensive linemen, particularly in the coming recruiting cycles.

Offensive Philosophy: While not strictly an offensive line coach in recent years, Bowen brings an offensive coordinator perspective that could add some fresh twists and wrinkles to Ohio State’s attack. His exposure to multiple offensive systems in the past could also be instructive on how best to hone the Buckeyes’ ground-based attack.

Mentorship and Development: The task is cut out for Bowen to prove himself in the development of players, most especially the offensive line, a position very key to Ohio State’s success. The last time he was directly involved in that capacity was close to a decade ago, and while it presents an opportunity, it is equally a challenge.

Upcoming Challenges

Success from Day One, Bowen steps into a role of expectation. This Ohio State OL was huge in the championship season, suffered injuries to some of your key guys, and yet still managed to be ranked top in keeping the quarterback upright. The expectation there will be that he not only maintains that mark but betters it with Bowen, especially due to the coaching turnover.

Also, how Bowen’s style will mesh with the team and new offensive coordinator – possibly Brian Hartline – will be important. The synergy of the coaches is going to provide how fast Ohio State can adjust to move on back with business as usual.

Conclusion

The hiring of Tyler Bowen as an offensive line coach at Ohio State sends a message of continuity and alteration in the Buckeyes’ dominant program. With a deep coaching and recruiting background, he’s certainly got a lot in the toolkit to be very successful, but it’ll be proven out on the field. Ohio State fans and analysts alike will pay close attention as Bowen shapes the future of one of college football’s most storied programs.
This story will reflect information culled from The Athletic, The Columbus Dispatch, and posts on X to update the continuing saga that is the changeover within Ohio State’s coaching staff.

Luke Montgomery Buckeye Offensive lineman for 2023

Luke Montgomery, 6’5″ 270 lbs., out of Findlay Ohio High School recently committed to the Ohio State football team for 2023. Some teams thought he could also play defensive line but was rated on the offensive line and is coming to Columbus to play that position. He said shortly after a school event that he wants to compete and win a spot with OSU.

Montgomery selected Ohio State because of the culture, coaches and teammates which were important to him. He committed to the Buckeyes at his school on the CBS HQ show. Ohio State moved from 12th in the country to 7th in the country with the commitment. So the class is well on its way to be a top 5 rated class as they seem to always finish. OSU offensive coach Kevin Wilson coached Montgomery’s father when he attended Miami (Ohio), so there was more than one connection for the young prospect.

Who Recruited Montgomery

Kevin Wilson and Justin Frye for Ohio State. Bill O’Brien for Alabama. Sherrone Moore for Michigan. Mike Elston and Marcus Freeman for Notre Dame. And Robbie Caldwell for Clemson.

Montgomery had over 30 Offers including Michigan, Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Alabama as his favorites.

Montgomery Visits

Ryan Day, line coach Justin Frye and Corey Dennis from Ohio State visited Montgomery during a basketball game in Findlay on January 14th. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson visited Findlay for a basketball practice shortly after. Montgomery visited Ohio State with his parents at the end of January. His parents thought he was ready to commit to the Buckeyes during the visit but he waited a little longer to consider other programs.

Other visits included Alabama on June 14th, 2021, USC on April 23rd of 2021, Clemson on June 15th, 2021, Georgia on June 12th, 2021, Georgia Tech on June 13th, 2021, Michigan on June 10th, 2021, Michigan State on June 26th, 2021, Penn State on July 25th, 2021, And Oklahoma on June 19th, 2021. After each visit he came back and still had Ohio State as the top program on his board.

Ranking

Montgomery is considered a 4 Star, 49th overall, 4th best offensive tackle, and the best prospect in Ohio.

Crystal Ball Predictions

Bill Kurelic, Steve Wiltfong, Sean Fitz, Justin Thind, JC Shurburtt, and Hale McGranahan all thought Ohio State. Joseph Hastings, Carson MacRae, Eric Lammers, Richard Schnyderite, Dylan Callaghan-Croley also all had Ohio State as his destination.

Scouting Report

Started as a tight end and defensive end but has grown into the tackle positions. Has the ability to pull and make plays out in space. Has experience at a number of spots on both sides of the line. Has a high school freshman brother, Ryan, that has also been offered a scholarship by Ohio State.

He joins Joshua Padilla from Ohio as lineman in Ohio State’s 2023 class.

Luke Montgomery: Ohio State 2023 priority commits to the Buckeyes, ready to lead class

Justin Frye Offensive Line Coach for Ohio State

According to a source, Ohio State’s search for their next offensive line coach is over. The eagerly-anticipated hire of coach Justin Frye is expected to get formalized early this week with an announcement. Throughout the league, coaches are familiar with the innovative and creative offense that has led to a high number of rushing yards each year. Also included in the announcement will likely be an additional title, such as run game coordinator. The Buckeyes are closing in on a deal with Frye, sources said.

I think this will be a really nice move, he brings the knowledge, experience and track record of success. The current OSU offensive linemen are familiar with him and he can hit the ground running.

Replacing Greg Studrawa

In replacing Greg Studrawa, the Buckeyes are hiring Justin Frye (38 years old), an Indiana native who most recently coached at UCLA. Prior to that, he was a graduate assistant at Florida (2009-2010) and offensive line coach at Boston College (2013-17). Much of Coach Justin Frye’s success off the field begins with his instincts as a player. After all, he played college football at Indiana University for 4 years.

Justin Frye and Ryan Day

Frye’s history of working with Ryan Day is also noteworthy because both men have a track record of producing top-notch results. They did it in similar fashion at Temple, where an improved offensive line helped the Owls go 9-4 and win their second bowl game in school history.

Justin Frye at UCLA

In his first season at UCLA, Justin Frye directed an offensive line that helped the Bruins improve from 67th to fifth in the FBS by averaging 185.6 rushing yards per game. Prior to Frye’s arrival, UCLA averaged 152.8 rushing yards per game over the previous two seasons. In 2018, UCLA running back Joshua Kelley tallied 1,243 yards on the ground, which ranked 10th in school history for a single campaign.

Frye helped anchor a Bruins’ rushing attack that was second in the Pac-12 last season with 215.1 yards per game and 17th nationally in 200-yard rushing games (8). The Bruins were also second in the conference and 11th nationally with 36.5 points per game, while leading the Pac-12 with 441.2 total yards of offense per game.

Ohio State: Why Did Greg Studrawa, Buckeyes Part Ways?

Ohio State Buckeyes Land Offensive Lineman Wyatt Davis

Many recruiting followers were surprised when Ohio State stopped their efforts for the in-state recruit, Joel Honigford, who currently held 29 offers from various other schools.

It became clear this week, however, when the Buckeyes announced that they had received a commitment from OL Wyatt Davis from St. Bosco High in Bellflower, Ca. This commitment surprised many who had not anticipated this news.

Davis, who is a 5-star recruiting prospect, listed his top recruiting school considerations 2 months ago and Ohio State was not included or mentioned by him as a school he was considering.

Last weekend, however, the situation changed quickly after Davis took a visit to Ohio State and the Buckeyes were suddenly included in his new Top-8 list.

The news had been that after his Midwest trip to visit potential schools, the Bucks and Notre Dame both caught Wyatt’s attention, though he did not want to commit until all trips were completed.

After talking with his family, however, Davis discussed his trips and made the decision that Columbus, Ohio was going to be the best fit for him as he continues his football and academics at the next level.

With Davis, the Buckeyes have 14 commitments for the 2017 recruiting class and he adds to the list of all-star OL already confirmed.

Davis, who is a top 5-star recruit is listed as the 14th overall player, 1st Offensive guard, and 5th player in California rankings by many rating agencies.

Wyatt Davis – Ultimate Highlights

Ohio State’s Offensive Juggernaut Could See Them Take Big 10 Title

“Michigan State” type logo used in the MSU Spartans football jerseys. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ohio State’s Offensive Juggernaut Could See Them Take Big 10 Title

The forthcoming Big 10 Title match-up between Ohio State and Michigan State should have all fans of college football salivating.

This is a game where the theory of immovable object meeting irresistible force will be tested. Ohio are an offensive power like no other at the moment. They average 48.2 points per game in 2013, making them the third-ranked team in the USA. That scoring rate is complemented by the formidable yardage that they rack up too. They have rushed for more yards, and have a higher rushing average, than any other team in the competition.

That kind of assessment might trouble fans of any other team, but Michigan State supporters have their own intimidating stats bank on which to draw for inspiration. The Spartans lead the nation in terms of their rushing defense, conceding a meager 64.75 yards per game – 18 yards less than their nearest challengers.

Their total defense is ranked at number one in the nation, and their average points conceded per game is just under a measly 12 points per game, the fourth best in the FBS. This defensive colossus will surely find some answers to the offensive questions posed by the Buckeyes. This clash of footballing philosophies really is a mouth-watering encounter for the sport’s purists.

This Ohio State versus Michigan State clash for the Big 10 title could well be a classic. Fans of both teams, as well as neutrals who simply love football, will want to make sure that they get their hands on some tickets.

Ohio State at Michigan State 2012 Highlights (Week 5)

Kyle Kalis 2012 Offensive Line Ohio State Commit

Kyle Kalis 2012 Offensive Line Ohio State Commit

Kyle Kalis is a four star offensive tackle recruit out of Lakewood St Edwards High School who committed to Ohio State’s 2012 class on September 17th. The 6’5” 300 lbs lineman is an early member of the Buckeyes class, currently standing at four recruits. When he received the official offer from Ohio State, Kalis did not take much time to verbally commit.

By Steve Patterson

Kyle Kalis plays with a nastiness that college coaches love from an offensive lineman. He told us about his play on the field when we contacted him this week.  “My best attributes a football player is my size and speed combo,my smarts on the field,my technique thanks to my coaches and most of all my passion and aggression.When I’m on the field I try to be the nastiest kid out there and drive someone into the ground every play. “

He came out for his first game and started dominating defensive lineman from the first snap. ”I think my highlight of my high school career so far is my first start…The coaches knew I was ready and so they told me I was starting.That week I practiced so hard in and when game time came I absolutely killed my kid.After the first drive I could just tell he didn’t want any part of me.” he explained about his first drive as a starter with Lakewood St Edwards.

He has made two college visits and is solid with the Buckeyes after his commitment. ”The only visits that I’ve been on is Ohio State and Penn State.Penn State was last year and that was before my offer.I’ve been up to Ohio State many times and every time i go up to Columbus I come away loving it more and more.”

He always wanted to play at Ohio State he reported to us. ”When i was looking for in a football program is the type of environment that their program presents to their players.Everything From OSU’s weight room to the Shoe is just amazing and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else and I’ve always known that.Ohio State is just the perfect program for me and I feel its the perfect place to succeed at.”

Kalis likes the academics in addition to the close bond the players and the coaches have at Ohio State. ”What I like most about Ohio State is the great family environment that they provide for their players.The bond between the players and coaches and the bond between the players i think is rare to come across in such a big program.Also their academics is a perfect fit for what i might study in college which is a major in architecture and a minor in art.”

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