Ohio State fans are finally getting over the hard ending of the 2025 season when a piece of good news comes up to start 2026 in a nice way. On the 4th of January, the former Ohio University tight end Mason Williams stated he is going to the Buckeyes. He used social media to post a basic graphic of those scarlet and gray bucknuts, and you could already sense the thrill of Buckeye Nation.
Getting to Know Mason Williams
This person is enormous—his height is 6 feet and 5 inches and his weight is about 258 pounds. He comes from Mogadore, Ohio, a little town near Akron which is famous for its tough football players. He was one of the talented youngsters in high school at Mogadore who played all the sports—football, basketball, and even baseball. He competed for varsity letters in everything and drew enough attention to receive some college offers.
In the end, he committed to Ohio University, as a three-star recruit in the 2023 class. He was amazing over the three years he spent with the Bobcats and developed into a strong starter. His career statistics tell that he made a total of 48 catches for 565 yards and six TDs. In the last season of 2025, he recorded 26 receptions for 276 yards and three scores—not great numbers, but consistent for a commander in MAC who is often assigned to do the roughest jobs.
However, the best thing about him is his blocking. Scouts and statisticians alike appreciate how he deals with run-blocking responsibilities. He spent a lot of time on the field moving defenders and making holes, which is reflected in the All-MAC honors he earned (some places gave him first-team while others gave him third-team). He's the type of tight end who is perfectly fine with getting dirty in the trenches.
This Feels Like We've Seen It Before
The last couple of years have not gone unnoticed by Ohio State supporters, and this move undoubtedly has you grinning. It is quite similar to the case of Will Kacmarek. Do you recall him? In 2024, Kacmarek moved to the Buckeyes after being at Ohio University, and he had an instant effect, being acknowledged as one of the greatest blocking tight ends in the country during his stay at Columbus for two years. He has just completed his eligibility, having been a very reliable and effective player throughout the offense.
Turns out, Williams actually took over as the starter at Ohio after Kacmarek left. The two overlapped a bit in Athens and got pretty close—Kacmarek even chatted with Williams about what it's like in the Ohio State program during this portal process. It's almost like they're handing off the role directly. Funny how that works out.
Why He Fits Perfectly in the Tight End Group
The Buckeyes' tight end situation is shifting a good bit heading into 2026. Kacmarek's done after using up his years, Jelani Thurman jumped into the portal, and Max Klare (the transfer from Purdue) is still weighing whether to head to the NFL or come back for another season.
Thus, it still has some youngsters like Bennett Christian, Max LeBlanc, Nate Roberts, Brody Lennon, and the new student Nick Lautar as a freshman. At the same time, it is a promising collection, but the addition of a player with experience like Williams-whom has two years of eligibility left-automatically gives them a boost. He has shown that he can be a starter at the college level and is excellent at blocking, which may help the run game become more efficient.
From what I've heard, he visited Columbus on Saturday, and coaches Ryan Day and Keenan Bailey really rolled out the red carpet. Williams called the trip "awesome" and said Bailey's an incredible guy to play for. Clearly, it sealed the deal quick.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Honestly, this seems like a no-brainer pickup. Low drama, high upside—especially for an in-state kid who's probably been dreaming about playing at Ohio Stadium his whole life. Williams isn't going to wow you with highlight-reel catches every week, but in an offense under Chip Kelly (if things stay the same), a physical, dependable tight end who can seal blocks and snag tough balls in traffic is exactly what you want.
The Ohio-to-Ohio State tight end pipeline is real now, and it's paying off again. Welcome to the family, Mason. Can't wait to see you out there making plays in the Shoe.
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