COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As the Ohio Republican Party gets ready to possibly endorse a candidate in next year’s gubernatorial race, reports said the state’s lieutenant governor may throw his hat into the ring.

According to an NBC report, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel issued a statement Thursday stating that while he was once hesitant to enter the race, he has changed his thinking and that the number of people encouraging him to run for the state’s highest office is “humbling.” He added that he hasn’t made a final decision, and he is enjoying the job of lieutenant governor for now. Watch an interview with Tressel from when he was sworn in as lieutenant governor in the video player above.

The statement comes one day before the state’s Republican Party is set to meet to consider issuing an endorsement in next May’s primary election.

If he does join the race, Tressel will join an already crowded Republican field of billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, Morgan County business owner Heather Hill, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. On the Democratic side, only former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton has announced her candidacy, although reports have said former Senate candidate Tim Ryan is considering a run.

Ramaswamy has already received the nod from President Donald Trump, a powerful political endorsement in Ohio.

The 72-year-old Tressel, a retired Ohio State University football coach with a national championship under his belt, was named Ohio’s lieutenant governor in February after Gov. Mike DeWine appointed then-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted as Ohio’s newest U.S. senator, replacing JD Vance when he became vice president.

NBC reports that DeWine, who is prohibited by term limits from running, is urging members of the Republican committee not to issue an endorsement yet nearly one year before the primary election.