Simmons Scoop: 4-star TE Jelani Thurman trending towards Big Ten

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes four-star tight end Jelani Thurman is from the South but as he approaches his decision Sunday, it looks like he will be heading North.

“There’s definitely a Big Ten feel for this one,” On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons said on The Simmons Scoop.

Thurman is considering four teams at this point: Alabama, Auburn, Michigan State and Ohio State. But it is the two Big Ten foes that he is considering very closely.

“He’s taken multiple trips to Michigan State,” Simmons said. “I know he loves the offensive firepower at Ohio State. I think Auburn, is quietly in the mix too. But I think it comes down to Mel Tucker, Ryan Day.”

The Buckeyes currently have the No. 1 class in the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking, while the Spartans have the No. 17 group.

Simmons said that current difference in depth and talent could end up playing a critical factor in Thurman’s recruitment.

“I think he maybe sees a quicker path to the field possibly at Michigan State but maybe better talent around him at Ohio State,” Simmons said. “I think he’s kind of down to those two schools at this point but he hasn’t ruled anyone out officially just yet.”

Jelani Thurman is a top-10 tight end

Jelani Thurman is the No. 148 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. That makes him the 10th-ranked tight end in the class.

Jarrett is the No. 9 tight end in the 2023 On300 ranking.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $107k. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.