Brian Hartline has done it again.
Ohio State has added another dynamic playmaking wide receiver to its 2024 class, landing the commitment of four-star Missouri wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan on Sunday.
The moment 4 WR Jeremiah McClellan committed Ohio State. @jay_mac2481
— 247Sports (@247Sports) August 13, 2023
He is the countrys No. 91 overall prospect, the No. 17 wide receiver and the No. 4 prospect in Missouri.
FULL COMMITMENT - https://t.co/tXSunaFtsP pic.twitter.com/94uwUdKd96
McClellan committed two months after making his official visit. The 6-foot, 190-pound product saw everything he needed on the trip to feel confident in his decision. While Missouri and Oregon made the race for McClellan tight at the end of his recruitment, the Buckeyes were the firm leader for most of the final stages of his recruitment.
The McClellan File
- Class: 2024
- Size: 6-0/190
- Pos: WR
- School: Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: #108 (#18 WR)
After picking up his OSU offer in September, McClellan visited Columbus on Oct. 1 for the Rutgers game, then later returned in the spring for an unofficial visit and an official visit with the Buckeyes in June.
With the addition of McClellan, Ohio State now has 20 total commits in the 2024 class. Three of them are wide receivers, with five-star prospects Jeremiah Smith and Mylan Graham being the others. OSU could take one more wideout in the 2024 class, with the Buckeyes still pursuit Miami commit Chance Robinson, a four-star wide receiver from Florida.
McClellan is the 108th-ranked player nationally and the 18th-ranked wideout in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2024 class.
McClellan is Ohio State’s first commitment from Missouri since JK Johnson in 2021. Other recent OSU players from Missouri include Kamyrn Babb and Cam Brown (each of whom went to the same high school, Christian Brothers College, as McClellan), Chris Booker, Jameson Williams and Mookie Cooper. He'll be the 16th player total from the Show Me State to play for the Buckeyes, also including Ezekiel Elliott, Reggie Germany and Butler By'note, among others.
The Missouri wideout picked OSU over the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Boston College, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
| Pos | Name | Rating | Rank | Size | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | JEREMIAH SMITH | ★★★★★ | #2 NATL | #1 WR | 6-3 | 198 | Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Opa Locka, Florida) |
| DT | JUSTIN SCOTT | ★★★★★ | #14 NATL | #3 DL | 6-4 | 310 | St. Ignatius (Chicago, Illinois) |
| WR | MYLAN GRAHAM | ★★★★★ | #18 NATL | #6 WR | 6-1 | 170 | New Haven (New Haven, Indiana) |
| QB | AIR NOLAND | ★★★★★ | #33 NATL | #4 QB | 6-3 | 195 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, Georgia) |
| CB | BRYCE WEST | ★★★★ | #46 NATL | #4 CB | 5-11 | 177 | Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| CB | AARON SCOTT | ★★★★ | #52 NATL | #5 CB | 6-0| 170 | Springfield (Springfield, Ohio) |
| RB | JAMES PEOPLES | ★★★★ | #85 NATL | #7 RB | 5-10 | 192 | Veterans Memorial (San Antonio, Texas) |
| WR | JEREMIAH MCCLELLAN | ★★★★ | #108 NATL | #18 WR | 6-0 | 190 | Christian Brothers College (St. Louis, Missouri) |
| OT | IAN MOORE | ★★★★ | #126 NATL | #8 IOL | 6-5 | 295 | New Palestine (New Palestine, Indiana) |
| LB | GARRETT STOVER | ★★★★ | #147 NATL | #11 LB | 6-0 | 195 | Big Walnut (Sunbury, OH) |
| RB | JORDAN LYLE | ★★★★ | #169 NATL | #12 RB | 6-0 | 180 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Laderdale, Florida) |
| LB | PAYTON PIERCE | ★★★★ | #170 NATL | #16 LB | 6-1 | 225 | Lovejoy (Lucas, Texas) |
| S | JAYLEN McCLAIN | ★★★★ | #261 NATL | #23 S | 6-0 | 185 | Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, New Jersey) |
| TE | MAX LEBLANC | ★★★★ | #268 NATL | #14 TE | 6-4 | 222 | Baylor School (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
| CB | MILES LOCKHART | ★★★★ | #348 NATL | #27 CB | 5-10 | 185 | Basha (Chandler, AZ) |
| TE | DAMARION WITTEN | ★★★★ | #351 NATL | #18 TE | 6-4 | 215 | Glenville (Cleveland, OH) |
| OT | DEONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★★ | #416 NATL | #32 OT | 6-6 | 280 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | DEVONTAE ARMSTRONG | ★★★ | #448 NATL | #26 IOL | 6-5 | 297 | St. Edward (Lakewood, OH) |
| OL | MARC NAVE | ★★★ | #603 NATL | #40 IOL | 6-5 | 315 | Central Catholic (Toledo, OH) |
| RB | SAM WILLIAMS-DIXON | ★★★ | #745 NATL | #78 ATH | 5-11 | 203 | Pickerington North (Columbus, OH) |
| Prospect Rating Data: 247Sports | |||||
McClellan can do it all
As a junior, McClellan caught 61 passes for 1,103 yards with 18 total touchdowns (13 receiving). He was also Christian Brothers College's (St. Louis, Missouri) punt returner and kick returner, returning 13 punts for 433 yards last season. In his sophomore season, he caught 41 passes for 989 yards with nine touchdowns.
McClellan also competes in track and field, clocking in a time of 11.27 seconds in the 100-meter dash. The Christian Brothers College product is an adept route runner with exceptional catch-in-traffic skills. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, he has a solid frame that he’ll be able to build upon at Ohio State.
As with any wide receiver coming to Ohio State these days, McClellan will face stiff competition to see the field with all the talent at his position. It may take two to three years for McClellan to see meaningful reps as a receiver, but with his route-running skill and big-play ability, he should contend for a starting role down the road. He could earn a role earlier than that on special teams, as he's a prime candidate to contribute on that end of the field in his first or second season.
McClellan's best fit in OSU's offense will likely be as a slot receiver, though he's primarily lined up outside for Christian Brothers College. He has a proven ability to make big plays both as a downfield receiver and after the catch and scored a long touchdown last season taking a handoff on a reverse. One of McClellan's best traits that will endear him to coaches and teammates alike is his willingness to run block and the aggression he uses to drive defensive backs downfield.
