Signed: Jelani Thurman gives Ohio State receiving threat at tight end

The Early-Signing Period is here and Ohio State is set to once again bring in one of the country’s best recruiting classes. Lettermen Row is tracking the Buckeyes recruiting news throughout the signing period as 2023 commitments officially join the Ohio State football program. The latest Letter of Intent is in: Jelani Thurman has signed with the Buckeyes.

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COLUMBUS — Ohio State has its tight end for the 2023 class: Jelani Thurman.

At 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Thurman is your prototypical new-age tight end. He’s got a catch radius that will wow you, and, although he still has room to grow as a route-runner, he has the quickness necessary to create separation at the collegiate level.

The Langston Hughes product signed his National Letter of Intent to Ohio State.

What does it mean for the Buckeyes? Let’s check it out.

Who is Jelani Thurman?

Jelani Thurman is a four-star tight end from Fairburn, Georgia, and he played his high school ball at Langston Hughes. He committed to the Buckeyes on July 17, 2022. Thurman held close to 40 offers, but he chose Ohio State over Michigan State and Auburn, among other storied Power Five programs.

On3 Consensus Ranking: Four-star, No. 108 overall, No. 3 TE, No. 6 Georgia

On3 Ranking: Four-star, No. 132 overall, No. 5 TE, No. 12 Georgia

Hometown: Fairburn, Georgia

High school: Langston Hughes

Thurman stuck it out with Ohio State even after Michigan State and Auburn kept the pressure on, and Buckeyes current tight ends coach Kevin Wilson — Thurman’s primary recruiter — took the Tulsa head coaching job. Keenan Bailey, who is a senior advisor to head coach Ryan Day right now, is set to take over as Ohio State’s new tight ends coach, and he’s received rave reviews from current players.

Bailey not only has a strong rapport with the team’s tight ends, but players in Ohio State’s vaunted wide receiver room have also credited him with their development. That will come in handy for Thurman, who has the makings of a great receiving tight end for the Buckeyes. Tight ends haven’t been heavily featured in Day’s offenses until this year when Cade Stover became the first Buckeyes player at the position to record at least 30 catches since Ben Hartsock in 2003.

Thurman committed in the summer, and, while he didn’t completely shut the recruiting door before he signed, he didn’t flip, despite the persistent efforts of Michigan State and Auburn as well as Florida State.

Thurman may be the only tight end in the Buckeyes’ 2023 class, however, he will join the receiving corps with new five-star wideout Noah Rogers and three fellow four-stars at the wideout position: Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and Bryson Rodgers.

How did Thurman end up at Ohio State?

Thurman was on campus for The Game. That was his first game-day visit since the season opener against Notre Dame on Sept. 3. He took his official visit to Ohio State on June 24 and committed less than a month later.

Day made an in-home visit to Thurman the first week of December.

“I feel very strong about my commitment to Ohio State right now,” Thurman told On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons two days before that in-home visit. “Michigan State and Auburn are still talking to me a lot and coming after me, then Florida State is on me some too, but it will take a lot to flip me.

“A few schools are coming hard, and I know it is signing season with it just a few weeks away, but they call it flipping season, too. Things can get pretty crazy, but Ohio State is the No. 1 school right now. I can really see myself being a Buckeye.”

Jelani Thurman Scouting Report (On3)

Tall, long tight end with one of the larger catch radiuses in the 2023 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-6, 227 pounds with a 6-foot-11 wing-span prior to his senior season. Has elite length for the position, with very long arms. The length shows up by way of the large catch radius. Has the reach to attack the ball at its highest point or scoop up low throws off the ground. Shows strong hands to finish through contact in contested situations. Makes high level grabs at a rate that is among the best of 2023 tight ends. Moves well, showing the quickness to separate though he’s still developing as a route-runner. Turned in a strong performance in 1-on-1’s at Under Armour’s Atlanta camp. Also plays basketball, where he shows the ability to throw down some impressive dunks. Plays in-line at times for his high school and shows a willingness as a blocker. Needs to continue adding to his lower body strength which will aid the ability to break tackles after the catch. Both parents were professional athletes – father Odell Thurman was a linebacker at Georgia and a second round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. Mother Kara Braxton played basketball at Georgia and went onto be a WNBA all-star.