Transfer Wide Receiver Jaelen Gill Ready To Make a Big Impact With Boston College

It was a big week for transfer wide receiver Jaelen Gill, who found out that his NCAA waiver was approved. The waiver meant that he was eligible to play immediately for the Boston College Eagles. On Wednesday he spoke with the media about his journey that took him from Columbus Ohio, to the east coast to reunite with one of his former Buckeye coaches, Jeff Hafley.

Gill came to Ohio State as a highly recruited local running back out of Westerville, Ohio. He was a Top 100 recruit with dozens, and had his pick of schools. When it came to a decision, he chose Ohio State, due partly because his grandfather was a huge Buckeyes fan. Before his grandfather passed away, Gill told him he was going to Columbus to play for Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

At Ohio State, Gill came on to campus as an "h-back". This unique position is one that lines up in the backfield like a tight end or fullback, and moves around either to run or play or run routes. Given his speed and ability, it would have made him a dynamic threat on offense, and a nightmare for linebackers to cover.

However, Ohio State eventually removed that position from their gameplan, which forced Gill to move to slot receiver. This was a blow for his playing time, as it was a position that already had a lot of established depth on the roster. He battled for playing time for two years, but didn't see many snaps. It finally came to head this spring spoke with wide receivers Coach Brian Hartline who was upfront with him, telling Gill he would probably be lower on the depth chart in 2020.

Gill was hoping that he could wow his coaches with a strong spring with the Buckeyes. However the COVID-19 pandemic cut that opportunity short, and he decided he had a decision to make. He spoke to his family about possibly transferring, and admitted it was a difficult decision. Gill had made a promise to his grandfather, and was close to home. But he realized his grandfather would support his decision, and his parents talked out what it would be like for him to go elsewhere.

Gill entered the transfer portal.

In the portal, Gill again was a hot commodity. He claimed that he was in communication with Florida, UNC, Pitt, USC, and Baylor. But Boston College had something these schools did not, a familiar face. Jeff Hafley had made an impression on Gill during their time together at Ohio State. During the last spring season, Hafley took Gill aside to tell him how impressed he was with his play. When Hafley called, and according to Gill he was the first, about coming to Boston College, it was an easy match.

Hafley laid out to Gill what BC had to offer, and what he as a coach could do. Gill said of his new coach, "because he is an honest guy. I felt comfortable like I was going to be taken care of." The newest Eagle connected with Hafley on another level. Boston College, like Gill, was now a program that had a lot to prove. "Boston College is about to change things around here. We are trying to prove to the rest of the country they are wrong," he told reporters.

Now that he made the challenging trip away from home to Chestnut Hill, Gill is starting the process to prepare for the upcoming season. Right now his days are simple, he gets up, gets some food, trains and works out, gets some more food and heads back to his room. But when the time comes, the junior with three years of eligibility left will do whatever he can to help his team and teammates. He is open to play h-back again, run the ball, play wide receiver or line up in the slot. He just needs a chance, and that is what Jeff Hafley will give him.

(video footage courtesy of BCEagles.com)

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