COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football program is expected to land Ohio linebacker Justin Hilliard on Wednesday as part of its class for National Signing Day 2015. Here is an in-depth look at this member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class.

Justin Hilliard

School: Cincinnati St. Xavier

Position: Linebacker

Height, weight: 6-foot, 225 pounds

247Sports Rating: A five-star prospect rated as the No. 2 outside linebacker and the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2015 recruiting class.

Other schools: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Louisville, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas A&M, West Virginia and many others.

What's the deal? Many people have forgotten that Ohio State got off to a rather slow start to its 2015 recruiting class. Then the five-star Hilliard announced in favor of Ohio State on the same day as his close friend, early-enrollee defensive end Jashon Cornell, and it sparked a huge run for Urban Meyer and his Buckeyes.

In the time since, Hilliard, one of the best prospects in the country, has been a staunch Ohio State supporter. He is a regular at Ohio State events and he took it upon his shoulders to help the Buckeyes recruit other prospects into the 2015 recruiting class.

Really, he was the ideal prospect for Ohio State – highly rated, immensely talented and willing to help Meyer's recruiting efforts.

How he fits in Ohio State's plans: Hilliard is an elite prospect who lived inside the borders of Ohio. He's an Alabama-caliber prospect, Florida State, Notre Dame ... you name it. He's the type of kid Meyer would lose sleep over losing. The Buckeyes didn't.

Though Ohio State has some great young talent at linebacker in Raekwon McMillan, who played some his freshman year last season, and Darron Lee, there could be some room for a prospect like Hilliard to see the field.

Ohio State has regularly recruited five-star linebackers, but most have them have needed at least a year to transition into the Buckeyes' defensive scheme. McMillan had a pretty solid role as a freshman, and Ohio State could find a spot like that for a player as talented Hilliard.

Projections for 2015: Hilliard comes into Ohio State, is one of the first to lose his black stripe and figures into the Buckeyes' linebacker rotation.

What we've written about Hilliard:

• A disconnect between Ohio State and Cincinnati? If one ever existed, Justin Hilliard's commitment shows that it's gone

• 'Like Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs': Ohio State targets Jashon Cornell, Justin Hilliard have big plans

Highlights:

Other snapshots:

• Torrance Gibson

• Joey Burrow

• Mike Weber