Steve Jones

@stevejones_cj

The Louisville football team landed arguably its best commitment in the 2017 recruiting class on Wednesday from four-star Florida running back Colin Wilson, who is rated a top-200 senior nationally by Scout.com and Rivals.com.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Wilson, of Clay High School in Green Cove Springs, near Jacksonville, is ranked the nation's No. 156 prospect overall and No. 15 running back by Scout. He's ranked No. 170 overall and No. 11 at his position by Rivals.

Wilson chose the Cardinals from a list of power-conference scholarship offers that included Notre Dame, Ohio State, Auburn, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

According to the Scout and Rivals rankings, Wilson is positioned to be the highest-ranked high school player to sign with U of L since Bobby Petrino was rehired as coach in 2014.

He is the Cards' 22nd pledge in the 2017 class, including the third four-star recruit, according to Rivals. Georgia receivers Justin Marshall and Corey Reed are the other four-star commitments.

The commitment shot the Cards' class up to No. 20 in Rivals' national team rankings with still nearly four months to go before national signing day. Seventh-ranked Clemson, No. 11 Miami and No. 14 Florida State are the only ACC classes ahead of U of L's.

Wilson is also rated four stars and the No. 298 senior nationally by ESPN.com, joining Marshall (No. 228) as the Cards' only pledges in that's site's top 300.

He's rated three stars by 247Sports.com but four stars in the 247 composite ratings, which average the four major sites.

Wilson has run for 338 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per carry, and three touchdowns in six games this season. He rushed for 490 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. His best year came as a sophomore, when he ran for 1,555 yards and 27 TDs.

U of L running backs coach Kolby Smith has been the team's lead recruiter for Wilson.

PETRINO'S FOUR-STAR PLEDGES

A look at Louisville's four-star football commitments, per Rivals.com ratings, since Bobby Petrino was rehired in 2014:

2017

Colin Wilson, RB, (No. 170 in Rivals250)

Justin Marshall, WR

Corey Reed, WR

2016

Desmond Fitzpatrick, WR, (No. 207)

Jawon Pass, QB

Chris Taylor-Yamanoha, WR/CB

2015

Lamar Jackson, QB

Devante Peete, WR

DeVonte Fields, DE (junior-college transfer)

2014

None