When Ohio State offered a scholarship to Westerville South four-star running back Jaelen Gill in June 2015, it seemed like only a matter of time before he committed to Ohio State.
The wait led some to believe he was contemplating a future in baseball, and a fractured fibula suffered in the second game of his junior campaign forced him to focus on rehab more than his future. In all honesty, a decision was the least of his worries.
But on Wednesday, surrounded by his friends, family, teammates and fellow students during a ceremony at his high school, a fully healthy Gill finally admitted the inevitable and pledged his services to the hometown Buckeyes.
The Gill File
- Class: 2018
- Size: 6-foot-1, 182 pounds
- Pos: RB
- School: Westerville South (OH)
- Composite Rating: ★★★★
- Composite Rank: 3 (APB)
The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Gill is considered the third-best all-purpose back and No. 32 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He picked the Buckeyes over more than 30 offers from programs such as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and Virginia Tech, among others.
Living only 20 minutes north of campus, Gill has been a frequent visitor for camps, games and practices over the last two years. He was reluctant to name Ohio State his leader, though, and was never shy about his interest in visiting the aforementioned programs.
Gill returned to campus for the Buckeyes' Junior Day last month, at which time head coach Urban Meyer began implementing the full-court press. Gill has reportedly had his mind made up for a while, but it was during an unofficial visit last week that he knew it was time to make his decision public.
Gill becomes the fourth member of Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class, joining five-star quarterback Emory Jones, five-star safety Jaiden Woodbey and four-star running back Brian Snead.
Eleven Warriors will have more on Gill's commitment soon.
