The Indiana Hoosiers Closed Out the 2018 Recruiting Class by Signing Three on National Signing Day
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The Hoosiers finished out their 2018 signing class with a bang adding three more on Wednesday Image: Sarah Miller Hoosier Huddle
Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The 2018 recruiting class is now completed after the February signing period. The Hoosiers signed 26 total recruits. At the time of publishing Indiana's 2018 signing class was ranked 10th in the Big Ten and 46th nationally by 247 Sports Composite rankings. Before we get into the three new signees, let’s take a quick trip back to what happened in the Early Signing Period in December.
2018 Early Signing Period Review
On December 20th, the Indiana Hoosiers signed high school prospects as part of the Early Signing Period for the 2018 recruiting class. The class is currently ranked 41st according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings. Indiana head coach Tom Allen said the Hoosiers could sign three-to-four more players before the 2018 class is finished. Let’s take a look at the highest-rated recruit, players who could provide an instant impact and the sleeper of the class.
Highest-rated Recruit
Ronnie Walker, RB
Walker is rated between a high three-star and a four-star prospect by different recruiting services. According to 247 Sports Composite rankings he is rated at 88.17, the highest rated prospect in the class. Walker will be an early enrollee, which should allow him to battle Morgan Ellison for the starting running back spot. Walker possesses the ability to make one cut and break big runs. He should be in the mix from the moment he steps on campus. NOTE: He is an impact player, but I won’t include him on the list below.
Instant Impact
1. Charles Campbell, K
The Hoosiers need a kicker for the 2018 season and Campbell should be able to come in and put his name in the ring to be the starting place kicker when the season kicks off a FIU in September. Campbell had a good enough high school career to be named a U.S. Army All-American. While the Hoosiers have some experienced kickers on the roster, Campbell could be good enough to pass them in fall camp.
2. Reese Taylor, ATH
The Indiana Mr. Football award winner is one of the most anticipated recruits to come through Bloomington. Allen has said Taylor wants to play on the defensive side of the ball, but will have a package on offense. Taylor is a special talent who should find his way onto the field next season in some form or another.
3. Cam Jones, LB
The Hoosiers will need a youngster to step up at the linebacker position and three-star prospect Cam Jones could be the one to do that. At six-foot-two and 210 pounds, Jones has the frame to add the bulk needed to see the field in 2018.
4. Jaylin Williams, CB
The Hoosiers have some decent depth at cornerback, but Jaylin Williams is good enough to force his way into the rotation, especially if the Hoosiers have to deal with the number of injuries that decimated the secondary in 2017. Williams is five-foot-11 and 170 pounds.
5. Mikel Pinex, QB
Indiana got the quarterback commit they desperately needed and beat out Florida State in doing so. Pinex is a six-foot-two, 195-pound dual-threat quarterback who will be enrolling early in Bloomington giving him a chance to catch up with incumbents Peyton Ramsey and Nick Tronti.
6. James Head, DE
The Hoosiers need a force at speed rusher and they may have found one is James Head. Another early enrollee will get his shot during spring practice to impress Mark Hagan and the rest of the defensive staff. The end positions are wide open after the graduation of Greg Gooch and Robert McCray.
Sleeper
Jacolby Hewitt, WR
The receiving corps for the Hoosiers will look a lot different in 2018 after Simmie Cobbs declared for the NFL draft and youngsters Taysir Mack and Phil Benker decided to transfer. Hewitt may not be the first name out of people’s mouths when it comes to filling in the holes created by these departures. However, Hewitt will be in for the spring and he brings the speed and decent size (6-2) that coach Grant Heard is looking for. Don’t be surprised if the Tennessee native is in the rotation early on.
February Signees
James Miller, LB- Indiana out lasted Florida State for the services of this talented three-star linebacker. Miller made a ridiculous 164 tackles as a senior in 2017 and has the size to be a difference maker from the minute he steps on campus. In addition to the 164 tackles Miller made 44 tackles for loss, forced nine fumbles and blocked seven kicks (five punts two field goals). Tom Allen has raided the Tampa area and bagged the top offensive and defensive player in that area.
Allen had this to say about his newest linebacker James Miller on Wednesday, “"James is really physical football player. He's got a big frame and can run sideline to sideline, which is what you want. As offenses have spread out, you have to have those type of guys in the middle. James is versatile and can play any of our linebacker positions. He is an awesome young man, who comes from a great family. James flat out makes us better immediately."
Jamar Johnson, DB- Johnson is a three-star defensive back who will play safety for the Hoosiers. He first committed to the Hoosiers on January 25th. He chose IU over Washington State. Sammy Jacobs wrote about his initial views of Johnson when he committed in January saying, "Johnson is a six-foot-two 185-pound prospect out of Riverview H.S. in Sarasota, FL. He played both safety and corner as well as returned punts in high school. He is another long strider who has deceptive speed. His ball skills are good for a corner and he is the kind of athlete Tom Allen could use on both defense and special teams."
Coach Allen released a statement on Johnson Wednesday afternoon saying, “We are really excited about Jamar. He has the skill set to play corner, safety or the husky position. It's really hard to find a guy like that who can do all those things. Jamar is a very physical young man and really athletic. He played receiver in high school and can return punts and kicks. Those are the versatile guys you want. We are really excited about Jamar joining our family."
Tom Allen made comments about Johnson on a video released on Twitter.
Jonathan King, DE- The Hoosiers needed a pass rushing end to round out a really solid class and Jonathan King is just that. The three-star weak-side defensive end out of Tampa Bay Tech (same school as Mike Penix) is six-foot-1.5 and 240 pounds and held offers from 21 total schools including Power Five programs Florida, Oregon, Maryland, Iowa State, Miami (FL), Louisville, NC State, Penn State, Ole Miss, Rutgers and Tennessee. IU also beat out self-proclaimed 2017 national champion Central Florida.
Indiana coach Tom Allen gushed about King’s physicality say, “For us, physicality is number one and Jonathan's a really tough, hard-nosed young man. He can rush the passer, which is a key point for our ends, but you have to stop the run in this league and he can do that as well. Jonathan plays really, really hard. He's a kid that loves the weight room, loves to play the game, and he has a teammate (Michael Penix Jr.) already here. Jonathan is a welcome addition to our program.”
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