Jaelen Gill: Right Player-Right Time for 2018 Ohio State Class

Jaelen Gill may be the player who gets things rolling in the 2018 Ohio State recruiting class.

When Jaelen Gill committed to Ohio State yesterday it was obviously terrific news for Urban Meyer. Gill is projected to be a Curtis Samuel type player for Ohio State and is ranked as the 3rd best all-purpose back in the country and the No. 32 player overall.

It’s always a good thing to have one of the top players in the country commit to a recruiting class, but it’s more than just that. Where Gill plays his high school football, and the timing of his announcement, makes it even better.

Gill plays for Westerville South High School located about 20 minutes from campus. Coach Meyer certainly wouldn’t want a talented local player escaping his grasp.

And he is only the fourth player committed to the class so far and the first in-state recruit. Ohio State is ranked No. 9 in the 2018 class and is the only team among the top 14 to only have 4 players in their class.

Highly ranked recruits stay in touch and recruit one another. Now coach Meyer has a local star who can be influential in bringing other recruits to the class. And especially Ohio high school players which could be very important at the moment.

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Every year Ohio is invaded by teams from surrounding states attempting to recruit Ohio players, so that’s to be expected. This year the talent level in the state is such that even Alabama is already in the fray.

Nick Saban has offered scholarships to Ohio recruits RB Tavion Thomas, WR Joseph Scates and DE Malik Vann so far according to Land Grant Holy Land.

Gill could help keep Ohio players Urban is targeting from leaving the state. According to Gill the recruiting has already started, and Jackson Carman, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, has been one of his targets.

Here is what Gill had to say about the big tackle from Fairfield, OH and the 2018 Ohio State class as reported by Land Of 10.

"“He’s one of the priorities, hands down,” Gill said of Carman. “He’s the No. 1 tackle in the country. We’re excited and trying to get him obviously and I think we have a great chance to get Jackson. I speak with him about three-four times a week at the least.”“I’m excited,” Gill said. “The 2018 recruiting class, if it’s not as good as the 2017 (class), I think it might be better.”"

Gill may be correct in his assessment, the 2018 class could be even better. Ohio State set the record for the highest player average ever recorded in the 247Sports Composite in the 2017 class with a 94.47 rating. This year’s average so far is 97.84.

With Jaelen Gill now in the fold things could really pick up soon in the 2018 class. There could be an influx of top-tier Ohio talent, hopefully Jackson Carman really soon, will be joining the class.

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Also, football camps will begin rolling along soon and that’s when things can get really interesting. Urban Meyer will have Jaelen Gill, along with QB Emory Jones, S Jaiden Woodbey and RB Brian Snead out there talking to other key recruits as well.

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