Five-Star OT Jedrick Wills Keeps Improving His Game

Lexington (Ky.) Lafayette offensive tackle Jedrick Wills entered the offseason as a five-star recruit and one of the premier linemen in the country. With that pedigree, making dramatic improvements as a player might not seem plausible, but that is exactly what Wills has done during the summer prior to his senior season.

Wills has traveled around the country this offseason, visiting colleges and looking for ways to improve his game. His most recent football trip was heading out to Beaverton, Ore. to compete in the Nike+ Football The Opening. Wills had an opportunity to compete against some of the nation’s top defensive linemen, and alongside several of the top offensive linemen.

While that competition was beneficial, it was the work Wills did with former NFL center LeCharles Bentley, who worked with the offensive linemen during The Opening. Bentley – a two-time All-American at Ohio State – runs the LeCharles Bentley O-Line Academy, which works to improve offensive line play.

“LeCharles is great, he knows so much about the game it’s unreal,” Wills said of his work with Bentley. “He’s just out here to get us better. He helps us polish up on our technique and polish up on our running game and just keeping us active, and keeping us learning.”

Wills feels like he will head back to Lafayette for his senior season a far better blocker, in the run game and especially the pass game.

“I feel like my pass technique has polished up for sure,” said Wills, who spent most of his junior season blocking for the run game. “Especially with all the coaching I’ve received. I feel way more comfortable in my [pass] set and in space.”

Getting elite coaching will be a key factor in Wills' college decision, as will the relationships he has formed with the different coaches. Wills recently announced a final eight schools that includes Kentucky, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Florida and of course, Notre Dame.

Wills has made several trips to South Bend, including a visit last summer in which he got to work closely with line coach Harry Hiestand during Notre Dame’s Lineman Camp. His relationship with has the Irish very much in the mix for his services, and his performance in that camp has made him a must-get for the Irish line coach.

“I like Notre Dame for sure, Coach Hiestand and Coach [Brian] Kelly, we’ve developed that relationship ever since they started recruiting me and ever since they offered me,” Wills noted. “They love the way that I can fit into their offense, and I love the way I fit into the offense also.”

Wills is a dominant tackle at Lafayette, and he showed during the Rivals 5-Star Challenge and The Opening that he has the potential to stick at that position at the next level. Notre Dame is recruiting Wills as a tackle, but much like they did with former five-star offensive tackle Quenton Nelson, the Irish coaches have said the goal is to get Wills on the field as quickly as possible, even if that means moving him.

“If they are short on a guard, stick me in there,” Wills said emphatically. “He wants me to get in there and play as quick as I can. I’m comfortable at right tackle for sure, I prefer that to be my main focus, but if not I’ll fit into anywhere I can help out.”

Notre Dame will look to pair Wills with Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny offensive tackle Joshua Lugg and incoming freshman Liam Eichenberg – a Rivals250 player – in hopes of replenishing the tackle depth chart with players with elite potential.

Hiestand lost All-American left tackle Ronnie Stanley to the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and senior Mike McGlinchey is being projected to do the same in the 2017 Draft. Notre Dame signed just two tackles in the last two recruiting classes, and one of those tackles – Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder Rivals100 standout Tommy Kraemer – could end up at guard.

The need for tackles with the talent to replace those two players is a must for the Irish in this class. While the loss of Stanley and pending loss of McGlinchey might be discomforting for Irish fans, Hiestand’s ability to churn out high draft picks has made a strong impression on Wills.

“Coach Hiestand and his history and the way he coaches and the way he develops players and sends them to the draft,” Wills said of Hiestand, who also developed Zack Martin (2009-2013) into a first round pick. “He puts the focus on me and all the other players he recruits, and the players he has at Notre Dame.

“He wants to treat them like their own, and make sure they get the best experience that he can give them,” continued Wills. “The best coaching he can give them before moving onto the next level. Everybody wants to play in the pros, and he can get you there.”

Wills just wrapped up a visit to Georgia and is heading next to Tuscaloosa for a visit with Alabama. When he returns from that trip, Wills plans to narrow his list down even further, most likely to five schools. Notre Dame is in a strong position to be a part of that group.

At that point, the Lexington star tackle will start thinking about his ultimate decision. He already knows what will ultimately go into that decision.

“Just seeing how long I can keep the relationship with the coaches, and how I can keep developing it until I feel like it’s right for me,” Wills said. “I [want to] have that strong bond that I need going into college. I’m focused on the way I can fit in with the campus and how it can benefit me.”

--

• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes

• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.

• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD78, @BGI_MattJones and @BGI_CoreyBodden.

• Like us on Facebook.