As one of the top running backs in the state of Ohio in the recruiting class of 2018, Tavion Thomas nearly ended up at Ohio State.
Thomas received an offer from the Buckeyes before his junior year of high school, and he wanted to sign with Ohio State. As a Dayton native, Thomas grew up rooting for the Buckeyes, and was particularly a fan of Braxton Miller and Ezekiel Elliott.
Due to concerns about Thomas’ academics, however, Ohio State decided not to accept a commitment from Thomas, instead encouraging him to enroll in a junior college with the possibility of becoming a Buckeye a year or two later.