Ohio
What Jelani Thurman’s Commitment Means for Ohio State’s 2023 Recruiting Class
Ohio State’s first commit of the 2023 cycle was a decent finish.
The Buckeyes obtained their 2023 recruiting efforts off to a robust begin when four-star tight finish Ty Lockwood dedicated to OSU final August. However that wasn’t sufficient for Kevin Wilson.
Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach lengthy had the will to search out one other premier tight finish to pair alongside Lockwood within the present class. His seek for the second took lots longer than the primary.
Ohio State provided 11 complete tight finish prospects within the class. Wilson scouted numerous others and evaluated a number of prospects hoping to land affords from the Buckeyes throughout OSU’s June recruiting camps. However over the previous couple of months, four-star Georgia product Jelani Thurman emerged as Wilson’s high goal to hitch Lockwood within the 2023 class.
Thurman acquired his supply from Ohio State in February and rapidly developed a rapport with the Buckeyes within the coming months. He took an official go to to Columbus June 24-26 and dedicated to OSU Sunday over Michigan State and others.
It’s not exhausting to see why Wilson is so intrigued by the potential of Thurman.
Thurman boasts an elite athletic household lineage, as each his mom and father are former professional athletes. His father, Odell, is a former All-SEC linebacker at Georgia who went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals. His mom, Kara Braxton, is a former WNBA participant who additionally had a prolific profession at Georgia.
Extra importantly, Thurman’s movie reveals he’s a flexible tight finish able to being each an environment friendly run blocker and a pass-catching weapon on the subsequent stage.
On The Subject
Much like Lockwood, Thurman has spent loads of time break up out extensive. His highschool typically takes benefit of his large body to create mismatches for opposing defensive backs and linebackers, using him with fades, crosses and screens. However Thurman additionally has sufficient expertise lining up along with his hand within the grime to the place it shouldn’t be a significant adjustment transitioning to Ohio State’s offense.
At 6-foot-5 and 230 kilos, Thurman has a lean body that he might bulk up extra when he arrives at OSU to assist him block opposing defensive ends.
A terrific jump-ball receiver, Thurman does a wonderful job catching the ball on the highest level over prolonged defensive backs, making him an intriguing purple zone goal. Thurman additionally reveals sufficient pace on movie that he may very well be a mismatch for linebackers making an attempt to cowl him over the center.
Additionally a basketball participant, Thurman confirmed off his athleticism on the hardwood throughout his first go to to Ohio State when he caught an alley-oop from 2024 OSU quarterback commit Dylan Raiola, which may very well be the primary time of many these two join on a move.
Good connection! @RaiolaDylan @OhioStateFB @OhioStateHoops @OhioState @OhioStateRivals pic.twitter.com/DGWsKnJ0se
— jelani (@jelani3345) April 15, 2022
Thurman caught 31 passes for 479 yards and 7 touchdowns final season for Langston Hughes Excessive Faculty (Fairburn, Georgia), the place he helped lead his workforce to a state title look and in addition performed defensive finish.
In The Class
Each time Ohio State lands a brand new commit, it appears this part all the time begins with an replace on the place it sits in 247Sports’ nationwide recruiting rankings. Effectively, Thurman’s dedication is not any totally different.
Up to now month, Ohio State and Notre Dame have every held the No. 1 nationwide rating a number of instances after a flurry of commitments. Notre Dame briefly claimed the No. 1 spot on Friday after touchdown a dedication from extensive receiver Jaden Greathouse. Two days later, OSU surpassed the Preventing Irish and holds the highest spot with Thurman’s dedication.
Ohio State now has two five-star prospects, 15 four-stars and two three-stars dedicated in its present class.
| Pos | Title | Score | Rank | Dimension | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | BRANDON INNISS | ★★★★★ | #18 NATL | #2 WR | 6-0 | 190 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) |
| WR | CARNELL TATE | ★★★★★ | #28 NATL | #3 WR | 6-2 | 185 | IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) |
| OT | LUKE MONTGOMERY | ★★★★ | #42 NATL | #4 OT | 6-5 | 280 | Findlay (Findlay, OH) |
| WR | NOAH ROGERS | ★★★★ | #51 NATL | #9 WR | 6-2 | 180 | Rolesville (Rolesville, NC) |
| DL | JASON MOORE | ★★★★ | #53 NATL | #5 DL | 6-6 | 255 | DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) |
| CB | DIJON JOHNSON | ★★★★ | #95 NATL | #11 CB | 6-1 | 190 | Wharton (Tampa, FL) |
| TE | TY LOCKWOOD | ★★★★ | #133 NATL | #8 TE | 6-5 | 225 | Independence (Thompson’s Station, TN) |
| TE | JELANI THURMAN | ★★★★ | #135 NATL | #9 TE | 6-5 | 230 | Langston Hughes (Fairburn, GA) |
| CB | KAYIN LEE | ★★★★ | #146 NATL | #18 CB | 6-2.5 | 175 | Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA) |
| S | MALIK HARTFORD | ★★★★ | #149 NATL | #8 S | 6-2.5 | 175 | Lakota West (West Chester, OH) |
| CB | CALVIN SIMPSON-HUNT | ★★★★ | #173 NATL | #22 CB | 6-0 | 175 | Waxahachie (Waxahachie, Texas) |
| IOL | JOSHUA PADILLA | ★★★★ | #180 NATL | #8 IOL | 6-4 | 265 | Wayne (Dayton, OH) |
| S | CEDRICK HAWKINS | ★★★★ | #211 NATL | #14 S | 6-0 | 175 | Cocoa (Cocoa, FL) |
| RB | MARK FLETCHER | ★★★★ | #221 NATL | #11 RB | 6-1 | 225 | American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL) |
| OL | AUSTIN SIEREVELD | ★★★★ | #222 NATL | #10 IOL | 6-5 | 320 | Lakota East (Middletown, OH) |
| WR | BRYSON RODGERS | ★★★★ | #267 NATL | #32 WR | 6-0.5 | 175 | Wiregrass Ranch (Zephyrhills, FL) |
| CB | JERMAINE MATHEWS | ★★★★ | #358 NATL | #21 ATH | 6-0 | 175 | Winton Woods (Cincinnati, OH) |
| DL | WILL SMITH JR. | ★★★ | #452 NATL | #55 DL | 6-3 | 260 | Dublin Coffman (Dublin, OH) |
| OL | MILES WALKER | ★★★ | #463 NATL | #38 OT | 6-6 | 285 | Brunswick Excessive Faculty (Greenwich, CT) |
| Prospect Score Knowledge: 247Sports | |||||
Thurman is the second and ultimate tight finish and the nineteenth total commit within the Buckeyes’ 2023 class. Ohio State turns into the second workforce to land commitments from two of the highest 10 tight ends within the 2023 class, together with Arkansas (Luke Hasz and Shamar Easter).
He turns into the second commit from Georgia in OSU’s 2023 class together with four-star cornerback Kayin Lee. The Buckeyes definitely hope he’s not their final commit from the Peach State, as they continue to be in scorching pursuit of five-star security Caleb Downs and four-star operating again Justice Haynes.