Best of the Midwest kicks off camp season

There is no off-season these days when it comes to the world of football recruiting as prospects who just wrapped up their high school seasons will now focus on the camp and combine circuit. The Best of the Midwest camp in Indianapolis (Ind.) is the annual spot for Midwest prospects to kick things off. The camp will be held on Monday and the event is once again loaded with some of the region's top talent.

The talent pool has plenty of Ohio State targets in it as once again many of Ohio's top prospects will make the trip west to Indy to test themselves. The running back position will be a strength of the camp headlined by class of 2018 Westerville (Ohio) South product Jaelen Gill. Gill won't be the only highly touted sophomore running back prospect in attendance as Indianapolis Cathedral standout Markese Stepp is also expected to compete. Trotwood (Ohio) Madison back Raveion Hargrove is another one to watch here as he is coming off a monster sophomore year for the Rams.

The wide receiver pool will be equally intriguing. Class of 2017 standouts Caleb Stoneburner and Hunter Rison are expected to compete and the 2018 class has a chance to really impress here with Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne phenom L'Christian Smith and Dayton (Ohio) Dunbar product Joseph Scates both expected to be in attendance. Smith is quickly becoming one of the Midwest's most talked about prospects and Scates is one of the best kept secrets in Ohio right now, this could be his coming out party.

Yet another 2018 pass catcher to keep an eye on this weekend is Pickerington (Ohio) Central tight end Trenton Gillison. Gilllison already holds a Michigan offer and could be a national recruit before it is all said and done.

The receivers will have some quality quarterbacks delivering the football to them with Rivals100 product Hunter Johnson headlining the list. Class of 2019 Southfield (Mich.) product Sam Johnson already holds a handful of offers and was very impressive at Ohio State last summer.

Headlining the offensive line group is Indianapolis Cathedral standout Emil Ekiyor. Ekiyor is one of the most highly recruited prospects in the 2018 class with early offers from Georgia, Michigan, and Tennessee, among others.

Defensively, the secondary is loaded with athletes. 2017 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech standouts Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Donovan Johnson are two of the Midwest's best and 2018 standout Kalon Gervin could be one of the best in his class before it is all said and done. 2017 Ohio transplant Russ Yeast is another highly rated prospect that is ready to prove he's among the nation's top lockdown corners. Class of 2018 Pickerington (Ohio) Central defensive back Xavier Henderson holds a handful of early offers as well.

Two of Ohio's best sophomore linebackers are also expected to compete in Springfield's Antwuan Johnson and Dublin Coffman's Griffin Hoak. Both are coming off strong sophomore seasons.

The defensive line has plenty of depth and will be headlined by class of 2017 Columbus (Ohio) DeSales tackle Derrius Mullins. 2018 Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne end Alex Reigelsperger is a fast rising sophomore and Westerville (Ohio) North freshman Jeremiah Burton has looked the part this off-season coming off an injury and is a definite player to watch moving forward.

BuckeyeGrove.com will have full coverage of this event on Monday so stay tuned for video, analysis, and prospect updates.