2018 Wisconsin Football Signing Class
Name Status Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown (High School)
A.J. Abbott Scholarship WR 6‐2 187 Northville, Mich. (West Bloomfield)
Travian Blaylock Scholarship CB 6‐0 180 Humble, Texas (Atascocita)
Donte Burton Scholarship CB 6‐0 175 Loganville, Ga. (Loganville)
Aron Cruickshank Scholarship ATH 5‐11 158 Brooklyn, N.Y. (Erasmus Hall)
Boyd Dietzen Scholarship DE 6‐4 245 Combined Locks, Wis. (Kimberly)
Jaylan Franklin Scholarship TE 6‐5 210 Brownstown, Mich. (O.A. Carlson)
Michael Furtney Scholarship OG 6‐5 290 Milan, Mich. (Milan)
C.J. Goetz Scholarship OLB 6‐4 230 Muskego, Wis. (Catholic Memorial)
Isaac Guerendo Scholarship ATH 6‐1 195 Clayton, Ind. (Avon)
Isaiah Mullens Scholarship DE 6‐6 280 Columbus, Ohio (Harvest Prep)
Taj Mustapha Scholarship WR 6‐2 195 Southfield, Mich. (West Bloomfield)
Reggie Pearson Scholarship S 5‐11 190 Inkster, Mich. (River Rouge)
Mason Platter Scholarship OLB 6‐5 225 Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
Cormac Sampson Scholarship TE 6‐5 240 Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial)
Jack Sanborn Scholarship ILB 6‐2 225 Deer Park, Ill. (Lake Zurich)
Alexander Smith Scholarship CB 6‐1 180 Culver City, Calif. (Culver City)
Nakia Watson Scholarship RB 6‐0 226 Austin, Texas (Westlake)
Bryson Williams Scholarship NT 6‐2 295 Lincoln, Neb. (Southeast)
Chase Wolf Scholarship QB 6‐2 207 Loveland, Ohio (Saint Xavier)
Nate Carter Walk‐On QB 6‐5 195 Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)
John Chenal Walk‐On ILB 6‐3 235 Grantsburg, Wis. (Grantsburg)
Jack Eschenbach Walk‐On TE 6‐6 210 Downers Grove, Ill. (Benet Academy)
Mike Gregoire Walk‐On ATH 5‐11 176 Green Bay, Wis. (Notre Dame Academy)
Andrew Lyons Walk‐On OT 6‐5 290 Kenosha, Wis. (Bradford)
Brady Schipper Walk‐On RB 6‐0 190 Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton)
Marty Strey Walk‐On OLB 6‐3 205 Sun Prairie, Wis. (Sun Prairie)
WILDCATS WELCOME 18 DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern football welcomed 18 newcomers to the program
as a part of the new NCAA early signing period on Wednesday morning. Complete
biographical information can be found below.
The Wildcats officially added 16 scholarship student-athletes and two preferred
walk-ons Wednesday, the first day that student-athletes enrolling next year could
sign National Letters of Intent.
“We’re excited to officially welcome the newest members of our football family,”
Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “Our staff
works tirelessly to identify young men that fit the culture of our program and our
university, both on and off the field. The early signing period gives us a great
opportunity for these Wildcats and their families to make it official as most have
been committed to our program since last summer. The Northwestern brand is as
strong as it has ever been and we can’t wait to get these men on campus as we
continue to build towards a Big Ten championship.”
The 18 students will arrive in Evanston from across the nation, led by seven from
Illinois, three from Texas and one each from Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana,
Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina. The group, which includes 10
signees on offense and eight on defense, is headlined by four-star prospects Wyatt
Blake, Khalid Jones, Devin O’Rourke and Jason Whittaker.
Northwestern finished the 2017 regular season 9-3 to earn an invitation to the 2017
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee. The Wildcats
will take on Kentucky on Friday, Dec. 29 at Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for
3:30 p.m.
SCHOLARSHIP
DRAKE ANDERSON
Running Back
5-11 / 180
Chandler, Az
Chandler High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on December 18, 2017 … Ranked as a threestar
prospect and the No. 11 player in the state of Arizona by 247 … Rushed for
2,009 yards and caught 23 passes for 310 yards while scoring 37 touchdowns to
lead Chandler to a 12-2 record and 6A Arizona State Championship in his senior
season … Named Team MVP … Selected to the American Family Insurance All-USCA
Arizona HS Football Team … Named All-Conference 6A Premier First Team and
Offensive Player of the Year … All-Arizona Big Schools First Team … Ed Doherty
Player of the Year Finalist … Ed Doherty Award Winner … Father Damien played for
Northwestern from 1997-2001, was inducted to the Northwestern Hall of Fame in
2009 and held the program’s all-time rushing record with 4,485 yards until this
season … Honor roll student … Plans to major in economics at Northwestern.
WYATT BLAKE
Defensive Line
6-4 / 293
Crystal Lake, Ill.
Crystal Lake Central
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 17, 2017 … Rated a four-star
prospect and the No. 20 guard in the nation by ESPN … Rated a three-star prospect
and the No. 10 player in the state of Illinois by 247 … Two-time team captain …
Four-year letter winner and starter … Named to the Max Preps Freshman All-
American Team … Two-time All-Fox Valley Conference selection … Two-time First
Team All-Area Northwester Herald … Sun Times All-Area Team … All-State selection
… Plans to major in communication studies.
ISAIAH BOWSER
Running Back
6-1 / 205
Sidney, Ohio
Sidney High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 23, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect and the No. 32 player in the State of Ohio by 247 Sports … Three-time
letter winner and varsity starter … Team Captain senior year … Named 2017 Ohio
Player of the Year by Touchdown Club of Columbus … Rushed for 2,695 yards, had
320 receiving yards and 32 total touchdowns in his senior campaign … Named First-
Team All-GWOC North and GWOC North Offensive Player of the Year … First-Team
All-State … Touchdown 7 Dream Team MVP … Totaled 503 all-purpose yards (413
rushing/90 receiving) and scored seven touchdowns in a game versus Xenia in 2017
… Finished high school career with 5,482 rushing yards, 695 receiving yards and 75
touchdowns … Two-time First-Team All-GWOC North … Twice named Sidney HS
Team MVP and Offensive MVP … Two-time letter winner in basketball, averaging 8.4
points per game … Named First-Team All-GWOC as a sprinter in track and field
during junior year … Holds Sidney High School records for single-season rushing
yards, single-season rushing touchdowns, single-season total touchdowns, singleseason
carries, points scored in a season, single-season all-purpose yards, singlegame
rushing yards, single-game carries, single-game total yards … National Honor
Society member … Honor roll student … Academic All-State … Plans to major in civil
engineering.
PAYNE HE’BERT
Offensive Line
6-4 / 273
Pearland, Texas
Dawson
Verbally committed to Northwestern on January 13, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect by 24/7 … Three-time letter winner … 2017 Team Captain … Named First-
Team All-District selection as a senior … 2017 Houston Chronicle and VYPE Top 100
… Helped lead Dawson High School to a district championship in 2016 … Two-time
letter winner in basketball and three-time letter winner in power lifting … Also
lettered in track and field … Honor roll student … Plans to major in economics.
JACOB JEFFERSON
Wide Receiver
5-10 / 165
Houston, Texas
St. Pius X High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on April 1, 2017 … Rated a three-star prospect
by ESPN and 247 … Led St. Pius X to the TAPPS Division I state championship …
Caught 76 passes for 1,216 yards and 19 touchdowns in his senior campaign …
TAPPS 6A All-State selection … First-Team All-District … Three-time All-Academic
honoree … Had 69 catches for 1,224 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior …
Finished high school career with 183 catches, 3,111 yards and 43 touchdowns …
Attended the same high school as former Northwestern All-American Venric Mark
and former Denver Broncos Head Coach and Super Bowl champion Gary Kubiuk …
Honor roll student … Anticipated major is biomedical engineering.
KHALID JONES
Linebacker
6-1 / 225
Greenville, S.C.
Byrnes High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 14, 2017 … Rated a four-star prospect
and the No. 12 inside linebacker by ESPN … Rated a three-star prospect and the No.
8 player in the state of South Carolina by 247 … Four-time letter winner … Two-time
Team Captain … Tallied 61 tackles, one sack, four quarterback hurries, eight tackles
for loss, one forced fumble, three pass breakups and one interception as a senior …
Named Most Valuable Player of the NC/SC Shrine Bowl Game … 2017 All-Region and
All-State selection … Wendy’s High School Heisman-School Winner … 2017 Butkus
Award High School nominee … Made 115 tackles, including 14 for loss, had three
quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and two
pass breakups as a junior … 2016 All-Region and All-State selection … Spartanburg
Herald All-Area Defense … Listed on ESPN’s top 300 juniors list … Helped lead team
to a South Carolina 1A State Championship as a freshman … Earned Max Preps
Football Freshman All-American honors … FNF South Carolina All-Class 1A Team …
Adidas Freshman All-American … Honor roll student … Palmetto Boys State Senator
… National Latin Honor Society member … National Junior Classical League and
South Carolina Junior Classical Society … Intends to major in biology.
BRIAN KAISER
Superback
6-7 / 210
Wilmette, Ill.
New Trier High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 10, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect, the No. 27 tight end and No. 16 player in Illinois by ESPN … Rated a threestar
prospect and the No. 32 player in Illinois by 247 Sports … Two-time letter
winner … Earned All-CSL South honors as a junior … Also earned a pair of letters in
volleyball … Father Steve played Tight End for the Wildcats from 1980-83 …
Academic All-State … Intends to major in economics.
ANDREW LEOTA
Defensive End
6-4 / 218
Asheville, N.C.
Asheville
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 31, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect and the No. 20 player in North Carolina by ESPN … Rated a three-star
prospect and No. 23 player in North Carolina by 247 … Finished high school career
as Ashville High’s all-time sack leader … Recorded 56 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and
seven sacks as a senior … Also caught 12 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns
as a tight end … Earned WMAC All-Conference honors … Grandfather Jim earned
medical degree from Northwestern.
CHARLIE MANGIERI
Superback
6-4 / 230
Peoria, Ill.
Dunlap
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 8, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect and the No. 18 Tight End/H-Back by ESPN … Rated a three-star prospect
and the No. 30 player in Illinois by 247 Sports … Four-year letter winner and starter
… Three-time Team Captain … Made 24 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns
and recorded 108 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks as a senior to earn All-
Conference, All-Area and All-State honors while leading Dunlap to a 13-1 record and
runner-up finish in the 5A state championship … Also earned All-Conference and
All-Area honors as a sophomore and junior … Named second-team All-Conference
and honorable mention All-Area as a freshman … Brother PJ played football at
Nebraska … Brother Nick played football at Indiana … Brother Luke played baseball
at Bradley … Uncles Eddie Sutter (1988-91) and Danny Sutter (1992-95) played
football for Northwestern … Honor roll student … National Honor Society member.
GRAYSON MANN
Linebacker
6-0 / 220
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth All Saints
Verbally committed to Northwestern on April 7, 2017 … Rated a three-star prospect
by ESPN and 247 Sports … Made 71 tackles, 8.5 sacks, forced a fumble and had one
pass break up to earn first-team All-State honors … Finished his junior campaign
with 52 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to earn firstteam
All-SPC accolades … Also earned first-team All-SPC honors as a sophomore …
Finished his career with 234 tackles, 28 sacks, three forced fumbles and one
interception … Honor roll student … Plans to major in psychology.
JEREMIAH MCDONALD
Defensive Back
6-3 / 187
Slidell, La.
Northshore High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on April 10, 2017 … Rated a three-star
prospect by ESPN and 247 Sports … Four-time letter winner … Two-time Team MVP
… Finished his senior season with 100 tackles, including 60 solo stops, three forced
fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 10 pass breakups and one interception to earn firstteam
All-District honors … Named a New Orleans All-Metro finalist in 2017 … Made
51 tackles, intercepted six passes, blocked three punts, had five pass breakups and
two fumble recoveries to earn first-team All-District honors as a junior … Led
Northshore High to the state playoffs as a senior … Caught two passes for 106 yards
and a touchdown, while making 10 tackles and two pass breakups versus St. Amant
in the playoffs.
GREG NEWSOME II
Defensive Back
6-1 / 170
Chicago, Ill.
IMG Academy (Fla.)
Verbally committed to Northwestern on April 3, 2017 … Rated a three-star prospect
by ESPN and 247 Sports … Attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after
playing his sophomore and junior seasons at Glenbard North High School … Made
15 tackles, intercepted two passes and made 15 pass break ups to help IMG earn a
9-0 record … Record 85 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions as a
junior at Glenbard North to earn first-team All-DuPage Valley Conference … Also
earned first-team All-Conference honors as a sophomore after making 40 tackles
with six interceptions and 13 pass break ups … Named honorable mention All-Area
as a sophomore and earned All-Area honors as a junior … Academic All-Conference
in 2015 and 2016 … Lettered three times in basketball, earning first-team All-
Conference honors as a junior … Former high school teammate of current Wildcat
wide receiver Jace James … Attended the same high school as Northwestern’s alltime
leading rusher Justin Jackson … Honor roll student … Plans to major in
economics.
DEVIN O’ROURKE
Defensive Line
6-6 / 241
Mokena, Ill.
Lincoln-Way East High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 10, 2017 … Rated a four-star
prospect and the No. 33 defensive end in the nation by ESPN … Rated a four-star
prospect and the No. 2 player in Illinois by 247 Sports … Three-time letter winner …
Under Armour All-American … Finished his senior campaign with 80 tackles, 26
tackles for loss and 15 sacks … Led Lincoln-Way East to a perfect 14-0 record and
IHSAA 5A state championship in 2017 … Earned IHSAA 5A All-State honors as a
junior and senior … Made 95 tackles with nine sacks and 19 tackles for loss as a
junior … Finished his high school career with 28 career sacks … Earned four letters
in wrestling … Attended the same high school as current Wildcat defensive back
Moe Almasri … Plans to major in civil engineering.
JAYLEN RIVERS
Linebacker
6-2 / 222
Decatur, Ga.
Grayson High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on June 2, 2017 … Rated a three-star prospect
and Top-60 ATH by ESPN … Ranked as a three-star recruit and a Top-100 ATH in the
class by 247 … Played safety, linebacker and wide receiver for the Rams …
Competed for Cam Newton 7-on-7 … Three-letterwinner for the Rams track team …
Honor roll student … Anticipated major at Northwestern is biology.
CHARLIE SCHMIDT
Offensive lineman
6-4 / 294
Libertyville, Ill.
Libertyville High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on March 5, 2017, the first member of the class
from the state of Illinois … Ranked as a three-star prospect and a Top-50 offensive
guard by 247 … Team captain for the Wildcats as a senior … Three-year letterwinner
played offensive guard, offensive tackle and defensive line for Libertyville … Did not
surrender a single sack over his final two high school seasons … Class 7A All-State,
Two-time North Suburban Conference All-Conference … Two-time NSC Academic
All-Conference … Chicago Tribune All-Area … two-time Daily Herald All-Area …
Chicago Sun-Times All-Area … two time Libertyville Most Valuable Offensive
Lineman … Helped lead ‘Cats to Class 7A state finals as a sophomore … Three-year
letterwinner in wrestling, won Class 3A Libertyville Regional championship last
year at 285 pounds .. Two-year letterwinner in track & field, competing in the discus
and shot put … Four-year honor roll student … High school teammate of current
Wildcats wide receiver Riley Lees.
JASON WHITTAKER
Quarterback
6-5 / 197
Rockford, Ill.
Rockford High School
Verbally committed to Northwestern on Dec. 10 2016, the first member of his class
… Ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 24 pocket passer in the nation by ESPN
… Rated a three-star prospect, a Top-20 prospect in the state of Michigan by 247 …
Ranked as a three-star prospect by Rivals … Captain of the Rams and three-year
football letterwinner … Completed 60% of his passes for 1200 yards and 13 TD in an
shortened senior campaign … OK Red All-Conference Honorable Mention …
Offensive MVP of Team West 7-on-7 …Member of the All-State Academic Team …
Also captained the basketball team and lettered in baseball for Rockford …
Anticipated major at Northwestern is communication studies.
WALK-ONS
WILLY BOATMAN
Offensive Line
6-2 / 250
Denver, Colo.
Kent Denver High School
Four-year letter winner … Started all four years on offensive line, defensive line and
as a long snapper … Two-time Team Captain … Earned CHSAA All-State honors on
offense and defense as a senior … Six-Zero Strength and Orange Blue All-Colorado
Team … Colorado Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year … Nominee for CHSAA
Offensive Lineman of the Year … Blue Grey All-American invitee … ESPN All-
American Invitee … Led team to the CHSAA 2A state championship game as a junior
… Earned first-team All-Conference honors on offense and defense in 2016 … CHSAA
first-team All-State … Mile High Sports Magazine and Six-Zero Strength All-Colorado
Team … CoPrepReport Class of 2018 first-team All-State offense. … Helped team
claim four-straight conference championships … Two-time state runner up … Father
played football at Indiana … Grandfather played basketball at the University of
Michigan … Uncle played football at Purdue …Member of the Student Leadership
Committee and School Spirit Council … Elected as school’s student representative to
the Board of Trustees for the 2017-18 school year … Sole student member of the
Education Committee … Vice President of Student Union for Diversity Awareness …
Earned three letters in lacrosse … Had scholarship offers to play Division I lacrosse
… Plans to major in history or pre-law.
RAYMOND NIRO III
Wide Receiver
5-10 / 177
Barrington, Ill.
Barrington High School
Two-time letter winner … Two-year starting quarterback for Barrington High School
… Compiled 3,658 total yards of offense and 44 touchdowns as a senior … Rushed
for 2,043 yards and 30 touchdowns, while passing for 1,615 yards and 13
touchdowns … Also caught one pass for 39 yards and a score … Earned All-Mid
Suburban League, Daily Herald All-Area, Chicago Tribune All-Area and IHSAA All-
State First Team honors in 2017 … Led his team to a 9-0 record for the first tiem
since 1998 and a MSL conference championship … Totaled 2,612 yards of total
offense as a junior … Rushed for 1,402 yards and passed for 1,210 yards in 2016 …
Named All-Conference and Daily Herald All-Area as a junior … Two-time Academic
All-State … Invited to the Illinois All-Star Shrine Game … Averaged 10.5 yards per
carry during his career … Two-time letter winner in basketball … Three-time letter
winner in track and field … Mother Amanda played volleyball at Northwestern …
Sister Ann plays soccer at Notre Dame … Sister Nicole played soccer at Auburn …
Attended the same high school as current Wildcat punter Daniel Kubiuk and Rapolas
Ivanauskus of the men’s basketball program … Honor roll student … National Honor
Society member … Plans to major in journalism.
Penn State Football Class of 2018
Nana Asiedu
OL | Stafford, Va. | North Stafford High School | HS Coach: Joe Mangano | 6-5, 275
Judge Culpepper
DT | Tampa, Fla. | H.B. Plant High School | HS Coach: Robert Weiner | 6-4, 275
Jahan Dotson
WR | Nazareth, Pa. | Nazareth High School | HS Coach: Tom Falzone | 5-11, 170
Bryce Effner
OL | Aurora, Ill. | Metea Valley High School | HS Coach: Ben Kleinhans | 6-5, 280
Pat Freiermuth
TE/H | Merrimac, Mass. | Brooks School | HS Coach: Patrick Foley | 6-5, 250
Daniel George
WR | Fort Washington, Md. | Oxon Hill High School | HS Coach: Craig Jefferies | 6-2, 210
Trent Gordon (Early Enrollee)
CB | Spring, Texas | Manvel High School | HS Coach: Kirk Martin | 6-0, 180
Aeneas Hawkins
DT | Cincinnati, Ohio | Moeller High School | HS Coach: John Rodenberg | 6-2, 280
Isaiah Humphries (Early Enrollee)
S | Rowlett, Texas | Sachse High School | HS Coach: Red Behrens | 5-11, 190
Charlie Katshir
LB | Camp Hill, Pa. | Cumberland Valley High School | HS Coach: Michael Whitehead | 6-3, 215
Zack Kuntz (Early Enrollee)
TE/H | Camp Hill, Pa. | Camp Hill High School | HS Coach: Tim Bigelow | 6-7, 235
Will Levis
QB | Madison, Conn. | Xavier High School | HS Coach: Andy Guyon | 6-3, 220
Jesse Luketa (Early Enrollee)
LB | Ottawa, Ontario | Mercyhurst Prep School (Pa.) | HS Coach: Jeff Root | 6-2, 240
Jordan Miner
CB | Wesley Chapel, Fla. | Wiregrass Ranch High School | HS Coach: Mark Kantor | 6-0, 180
PJ Mustipher
DT | Owings Mills, Md. | McDonogh High School | HS Coach: Dominic Damico | 6-4, 300
Micah Parsons (Early Enrollee)
ATH | Harrisburg, Pa. | Harrisburg High School | HS Coach: Calvin Everett | 6-3, 245
Jake Pinegar
K | Ankeny, Iowa | Ankeny Centennial High School | HS Coach: Jerry and Ryan Pezzetti | 6-2, 195
Frederick “Juice” Scruggs
OL | Erie, Pa. | Cathedral Prep School | HS Coach: Mike Mischler | 6-3, 270
Justin Shorter
WR | Monmouth Junction, N.J. | South Brunswick High School | Coach: Joe Goerge | 6-4, 220
Ricky Slade
RB | Woodbridge, Va. | C.D. Hylton High School | HS Coach: Tony Lilly | 5-9, 185
Nick Tarburton (Early Enrollee)
LB | Green Lane, Pa. | Pennridge High School | HS Coach: Jeff Hollenbach | 6-3, 250
Iowa Hawkeyes
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown High School/CC
Dallas Craddieth DB 6-0 197 Fr. St. Louis, Mo. Hazelwood Central
(CRAD-ith)
Dillon Doyle LB 6-3 215 Fr. Iowa City, Iowa West
Samson Evans WR 6-1 205 Fr. Crystal Lake, Ill. Prairie Ridge
Henry Geil (GILE) RB 6-1 215 Fr. Green Bay, Wis. Preble
Cody Ince (INCE) OL 6-5 260 Fr. Balsam Lake, Wis. Unity
Jeff Jenkins OL 6-4 270 Fr. Crystal Lake, Ill. Prairie Ridge
Tyler Linderbaum DL 6-2 270 Fr. Solon, Iowa Solon
Riley Moss DB 6-1 182 Fr. Ankeny, Iowa Centennial
Daviyon Nixon DL 6-5 295 So. Kenosha, Wis. Indian Trail
(DAVE-ee-un)
Spencer Petras QB 6-5 225 Fr. San Rafael, Calif. Marin Catholic
(PEE-tris)
Jack Plumb OL 6-8 250 Fr. Green Bay, Wis. Bay Port
Terry Roberts DB 5-10 171 Fr. Erie, Pa. Cathedral Prep
Noah Shannon DL 6-1 300 Fr. Aurora, Ill. Oswego
Tyrone Tracy, Jr. WR 6-0 187 Fr. Camby, Ind. Decatur Central
John Waggoner DL 6-5 245 Fr. Des Moines, Iowa Dowling
Ohio State Signs Highly Regarded and Rated Class
Class includes 21 players including six selected as No. 1 at his position
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Coach Urban Meyer and his Ohio State football program wrapped up the first December signing day with one of the top, if not the top, recruiting classes in the nation. Ohio State started the day with the No. 1-ranked class by both 247Sports and also Rivals, and then Meyer and Co. announced the signing of 21 prospects making up that ranking throughout the day Wednesday.
A handful of five-star rated players give the Ohio State class terrific potential as does as many as 15 four-star rated players amid a class that features balance with three wide receivers, linebackers and defensive tackles, and two running backs, offensive linemen, safeties and cornerbacks.
The five-star recruits included the first December signee for Ohio State: linebacker Teradja Mitchell, from Virginia Beach, Va., and Bishop Sullivan High School. The group includes Ohioan Jaelen Gill, an H-back from Westerville South; cornerback Tyreke Johnson, from Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla.; and defensive tackle Taron Vincent, from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
The class includes players from 11 different states, led by four players apiece from Ohio and Florida, and the first-ever recruit from Idaho, defensive tackle Tommy Togiai. Togiai is part of a terrific trio at his position that also includes the No. 1 rated tackle in Vincent and the No. 2 rated junior college defensive tackle, Antwuan Jackson, from Jacksonville, Fla., by way of Blinn Junior College.
In addition to Vincent, new Buckeyes hold the No. 1 ranking at a number of other positions, including safety (Johnson, by Rivals), tight end (Jeremy Ruckert, by 247Sports), inside linebacker (Mitchell, by Rivals and 247Sports), all-purpose back (Gill, by Rivals and 247Sports) and at center (Matthew Jones, by 247Sports).
Ohioans in the class, in addition to Gill, are wide receiver L’Christian “Blue” Smith from Huber Heights Wayne, linebacker Dallas Gant from St. John’s Jesuit in Toledo, and athlete Alex Williams, from Pickerington North.
Prospects have until midnight Friday to sign their letters of intent during this December signing period.
Ohio State Recruiting Class Roster
Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Hometown/High School
Kamryn Babb WR 6-1 189 St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College
Matthew Baldwin QB 6-3 195 Austin, Texas / Lake Travis
Sevyn Banks CB 6-1 180 Orlando, Fla. / Jones
Cameron Brown WR 6-1 175 St. Louis, Mo. / Christian Brothers College
Dallas Gant LB 6-3 225 Toledo, Ohio / St. John’s Jesuit
Jaelen Gill H-B 6-1 182 Westerville, Ohio / South
Marcus Hooker SAF 6-0 185 New Castle, Pa. / New Castle
Antwuan Jackson DT 6-2 305 Ellenwood, Ga. / Cedar Grove/Blinn J.C.
Tyreke Johnson CB 6-1 191 Jacksonville, Fla. / Trinity Christian Academy
Matthew Jones OL 6-4 315 Brooklyn, N.Y. / Erasmus Hall
Teradja Mitchell LB 6-2 235 Virginia Beach, Va. / Bishop Sullivan
K’Vaughan Pope LB 6-2 210 Dinwiddie, Va. / Dinwiddie
Josh Proctor SAF 6-2 190 Owasso, Okla. / Owasso
Jeremy Ruckert TE 6-6 240 Lindenhurst, N.Y. / Lindenhurst
L’Christian Smith WR 6-6 205 Huber Heights, Ohio / Wayne
Brian Snead RB 5-11 200 Seffner, Fla. / Armwood
Master Teague RB 5-11 210 Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Blackman
Tommy Togiai DT 6-3 290 Pocatello, Idaho / Highland
Taron Vincent DT 6-2 285 Bradenton, Fla. / IMG Academy
Alex Williams ATH 6-7 250 Pickerington, Ohio / North
Max Wray OT 6-6 289 Franklin, Tenn. / Franklin
INDIANA SIGNS TWENTY-THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head football coach Tom Allen announced today the signing of 23 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Hoosiers in 2018. Today opened college football’s early signing period, which will run through Friday, Dec. 22.
IU signed 12 defensive players, eight offensive players, two athletes and one kicker. Indiana added five defensive backs, four defensive linemen and three linebackers on defense, and two offensive linemen, two tight ends, two wide receivers, one quarterback and one running back on offense.
Players signed from 10 different states, including five from Florida, four from Illinois, four from Tennessee, three from Indiana, two from Georgia, and one each from Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
Defensive lineman James Head Jr. (Miami, Fla./Southridge H.S.), wide receiver Jacolby Hewitt (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova H.S.), quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech H.S.) and running back Ronnie Walker Jr. (Hopewell, Va./Hopewell H.S.) will enroll in spring semester classes and participate in practice.
The Hoosiers signing class currently ranks 33rd nationally in Rivals team rankings. IU will close out its class during National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Matt Bjorson (b-YOR-sun) TE 6-3 225 Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central H.S.
Charles Campbell K 5-9 180 Jackson, Tenn./University School of Jackson
Aaron Casey LB 6-2 215 Douglasville, Ga./Alexander H.S.
James Head Jr. DL 6-5 232 Miami, Fla./Southridge H.S.
Jacolby Hewitt WR 6-1 210 Cordova, Tenn./Cordova H.S.
TJ Ivy TE 6-5 227 Chicago, Ill./Marist H.S.
Cam Jones LB 6-3 215 Memphis, Tenn./Saint Benedict at Auburndale H.S.
Shamar Jones (shuh-mar) DL 6-1 271 Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown H.S.
Jordan Jusevitch (juice-a-vitch) DB 6-1 190 Lowell, Ind./Lowell H.S.
Nick Marozas (ma-row-zis) OL 6-5 271 Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice H.S.
Miles Marshall WR 6-4 210 Lilburn, Ga./Parkview H.S.
Devon Matthews (Devin) DB 6-2 203 Jacksonville, Fla./Ribault H.S.
Gavin McCabe DL 6-4 255 Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist H.S.
Micah McFadden LB 6-2 225 Tampa, Fla./Plant H.S.
Madison Norris DL 6-5 200 Indianapolis, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Michael Penix Jr. (PEN-icks) QB 6-3 205 Tampa, Fla./Tampa Bay Tech H.S.
Noah Pierre DB 5-11 185 Hialeah, Fla./Champagnat Catholic School
Aidan Rafferty (A-den raf-ur-tee) OL 6-6 271 Kensington, Md./Gonzaga College H.S.
Elijah Rodgers DB 6-1 175 Blacksburg, S.C./Blacksburg H.S.
Stevie Scott ATH 6-2 235 Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy
Reese Taylor ATH 5-11 175 Indianapolis, Ind./Ben Davis H.S.
Ronnie Walker Jr. RB 5-11 198 Hopewell, Va./Hopewell H.S.
Jaylin Williams DB 6-0 180 Memphis, Tenn./Germantown H.S.
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