Justin Hilliard, Jashon Cornell commit to Ohio State

By Stephen Spiewak Jul 2, 2014, 7:00am

Buckeyes enjoy huge recruiting day, land pair of elite defensive players.

Linebacker Justin Hilliard committed to play for Ohio State on Wednesday.
Linebacker Justin Hilliard committed to play for Ohio State on Wednesday.
Courtesy of St. Xavier High School
Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class got a lot better on Wednesday, when both Justin Hilliard and Jashon Cornell committed to play for the Buckeyes.
Jashon Cornell, Cretin-Derham Hall
Jashon Cornell, Cretin-Derham Hall
Michael Murray Photography

Both made their announcements during a live television segment on ESPN's RecruitingNation.

Hilliard, a linebacker at St. Xavier (Cincinnati), selected Ohio State over Notre Dame, Michigan and others, while Cornell, a defensive lineman from Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), picked the Buckeyes over Notre Dame and Michigan State, among many other offers.

Both are five-star recruits according to 247Sports' Top247. Hilliard checks in as the No. 1 outside linebacker in the country while Cornell ranks as the No. 5 weakside defensive end nationally.

The duo is a boost to an Ohio State recruiting class that was solid, but had lacked the blue-chip names that Urban Meyer's recruiting classes typically boast.



Now, Ohio State is far from finished on the recruiting trail. With Hilliard and Cornell in the fold, Ohio State will shift its recruiting efforts to try to land other top uncommitted recruits like Kentucky running back Damien Harris.