Finding the right fit for your college football program isn't just about what happens on the field, but off it as well. Today, Ohio State added a key piece. How will that commitment impact the Buckeyes?
Ohio State landed a commitment from one of its priority targets when Westerville South four-star running back Jaelen Gill pledged his services to the Buckeyes during a ceremony at his high school on Wednesday afternoon.
Let's take a look at what Gill — the second-best player in the state of Ohio — brings to Columbus.
ON THE FIELD
Gill is one of the most dynamic athletes in the country and can make plays running between the tackles or catching passes out of the backfield. He not only has the ability to change directions quickly and the acceleration to run right past would-be tacklers, but also the vision to turn nothing into something.
Standing 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, Gill has a leaner frame and can stand to add some weight. But that said, he's more likely to man the H-Back position than star in a more traditional backfield role, a la Curtis Samuel.
Gill rushed for 1,553 yards and 19 touchdowns and caught seven passes for 224 yards and three more scores as a sophomore, but nearly missed his entire junior campaign after he suffered a fractured fibula in the second game of the season.
His five-touch, three-touchdown performance in a preseason scrimmage had the Wildcats thinking of a return to the state playoffs, but the team struggled to a 1-9 record without him.
IN THE CLASS
Gill becomes the fourth member of Ohio State's Supreme '18 recruiting class, joining five-star dual-threat quarterback Emory Jones, five-star safety Jaiden Woodbey and four-star running back Brian Snead. He, as mentioned, will most likely be featured at H-Back, while Snead is a bigger back and will be used more between the tackles.
Gill is the first Ohioan to commit to the Buckeyes this cycle, which comes as a surprise considering head coach Urban Meyer and director of player personnel Mark Pantoni's desire to have roughly 50 percent of the class be homegrown talent. His pledge should get the ball rolling with other in-state prospects, especially if he takes on a leadership role in the class.
It's unclear if the Buckeyes will add another running back at a later date, as the staff recently offered Dayton Dunbar three-star Tavion Thomas. But his commitment, or any other running back's for that matter, won't have an effect on Gill.
THE INTANGIBLES
Like most kids in Ohio, Gill grew up rooting for the Buckeyes. So then why did it take so long for him to commit?
When a Columbus kid gets an offer from Ohio State, they oftentimes shut down their recruitment right then and there. But Gill was different. He wanted to become a national prospect first, instead of simply choosing the one right down the road.
So Gill and his family enjoyed the recruiting process. They saw what Blacksburg, Knoxville, Los Angeles and South Bend had to offer, and gave each school an honest look.
But no matter how hard he tried, Gill couldn't find a better fit than Ohio State.
