What does Garrett Wilson bring to Ohio State?

The Ohio State Buckeyes just landed their highest-rated wide receiver. Ever. Not just in 2019, not just under Urban Meyer, no, Garrett Wilson is the highest-ranked high school receiver to ever commit to Ohio State, at least since the beginning of recruiting rankings sites in the early 2000s. Even that stat doesn’t do justice to how big this get is for Ohio State.

The Lake Travis, Texas product and former teammate of Buckeye quarterback Matthew Baldwin is a consensus five-star product, and easily the highest ranked-recruit in Ohio State’s class to this point. Let’s take a look at what all the hype is about.

On the field

The 6-foot tall, 185-pound wideout isn’t a finished product by any means, but in terms of high school receivers, he’s as fluid and natural as they come. Wilson is an explosive and smooth route runner, that consistently sets up and blows past defenders like a pro. Defending him with press coverage is a mistake, because he has incredible speed and knows how to use his hands at the point of contact.

His route tree isn’t super advanced, but it’s nothing worth worrying about. When it comes to running routes and creating separation, he’s Big Ten ready now. His hands are a similar story. Wilson is a hand catcher, which is exactly what coaches love to see. He attacks the ball, both on the run and in the air, on slants, jump balls, and everything in between.

He’s deceptively strong for how small he is, and will only get better at jump balls and contested catches after a couple years in Mickey Mariotti’s dojo. The only real knocks on Wilson are his lack of size and his lacking route tree, but he more than makes up for it with athleticism and body control, specifically in the red zone.

Wilson will never be a jump ball, go-up-and-get-it kind of receiver, but he’s a true number one receiver, that can abuse defenses with his strong hands and fluidity. The game is already starting to slow down for him at 17 years old, and his ceiling is future top-five receiver in all of football. He’s a stud.

In the class

Wilson is the ninth commitment in Ohio State’s 2019 class, and either the first or second receiver, depending on where Ronnie Hickman ends up (my guess is at safety, for the record). He’s the third commitment in two days, as Bryson Shaw surprised everyone and flipped from Wisconsin on Saturday night, and Cade Stover finally ended his recruitment just hours ago.

Wilson is the top recruit in Ohio State’s class, jumping Doug Nester at the top. He’s ranked 29th nationally and fifth among receivers according to the 247Sports composite, and even higher in their in-house rankings, at eighth nationally and second positionally. Current Buckeye freshman quarterback Matthew Baldwin was ecstatic with the news of Wilson’s commitment, as he gets to throw the ball to a former high school teammate.

Personally, I think he’s the best receiver in the country, and will prove that this summer and in his senior season. His commitment launches Ohio State’s class from 10th up to seventh, and makes them the third-highest ranked class with nine or fewer commits, behind Georgia and Alabama.

Wilson may be a Texas recruit now, but he’s an Ohio native, and that connection, as well as his relationship with Urban Meyer, Ryan Day, Zach Smith, Kevin Wilson and Matthew Baldwin lead me to think that Buckeye fans should have no concerns about a possible flip. Wilson is a solid commit, and a massive get for this class.