The Hurry Up: Talking Josh Myers, Mayden and a Key Mid-Winter Visit Schedule for Michigan

By Jeremy Birmingham on February 16, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Josh Myers
Miamisburg 2017 OL Josh Myers
120 Comments

Welcome to The Hurry Up, which runs Sunday through Thursday, serving as your last stop for recruiting news and notes nightly. We'll recap the day as it happened and preview the days ahead while keeping our ear to the ground on the Ohio State recruiting scene.


MYERS WAS MUST HAVE

Last night's Hurry Up touched briefly on the commitment and eventual hype surrounding the recruitment of 2017 Buckeye pledge Shaun Wade. While Wade's commitment took the Buckeyes by surprise, the fact that he's likely to visit other schools multiple times before he can sign a letter of intent two years from now is not a surprise. That's what happens when you recruit these days; you keep recruiting until they can sign, no matter how secure they are in their commitment. 

Another 2017 commitment already in the fold for the Buckeyes is Miamisburg, Ohio's Josh Myers. The top-ranked offensive lineman in his class and third-ranked overall player, Myers' decision did not take the Buckeyes by surprise, even if his timing did. Urban Meyer made the 6-foot-6, 290-pound sophomore a top priority regardless of class.

"It's not often a sophomore is a 'must get' but Myers is," a source near the Buckeyes shared. "He's got All-American written all over him and might be the best tackle to come out of Ohio since Pace, seriously, he's got that kind of potential."

It's not just Myers' on-field ability that makes him such an intriguing prospect.

"He's a great kid, too," the source continued. "He comes from a great family and he's the type of person that others will want to line up with. [He's] everything you want in a football player."

DRAMA AROUND KJ HILL NOTHING FOR BUCKEYES TO WORRY ABOUT

Upon signing with the Buckeyes two weeks ago, North Little Rock wide receiver KJ Hill found himself — for some reason — at the middle of a "scandal" that involved his high school coach, Brad Bolding, and eligibility questions around Hill's transfer to North Little Rock. Arkansas rules state that a player must sit out a minimum of one-year and apparently that did not happen. There were also rumors that Bolding accepted money from private boosters in order to help provide new equipment. Hill's ineligibility to participate in athletics at North Little Rock is the primary reason why the school forfeited every win he was a part of during the last two years.

That said, his athletic eligibility in high school does not in any way impact his situation with Ohio State. In fact, one source close to the situation was very clear as to why he thought this was being brought up and made public now, just after signing day.

"It's all just BS because he didn't sign with Arkansas," the source said. "It's ridiculous but his name being involved and making him out to be the 'bad guy' is just crybaby stuff."

JARED MAYDEN COMMITMENT TIMELINE?

We've talked about Jared Mayden II before, but the country's 8th-ranked 2016 cornerback continues to say all the right things when it comes to his recruitment. The 6-foot, 190-pound corner from Sachse, Texas, has narrowed his list to three favorites: TCU, Ohio State and Oregon. Yesterday, Mayden visited Oklahoma for the second time and he's not suggesting that a top three means a final three. He was recently offered by Alabama and more are likely to come his way. He's visited Ohio State twice on his own dime and the Buckeyes' Chris Ash continues to stay in touch regularly.

"I actually talked to [Chris Ash] yesterday," Mayden told 11W. "We talk a lot."

Mayden recently participated in the International Bowl, suiting up in the Stars and Stripes for Team USA as they battled with Team Canada in Arlington, Texas. The experience was an excellent one for Mayden.

"The game was great," he said. "The chance to get to meet great players from across the country and to become friends with them is great."

Two of the players Mayden became closest with were Maryland quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Jr. and North Carolina running back Robert Washington. In fact, he's decided that he'll visit Charlotte in May to participate in the The Opening Regionals at Mallard Creek High School with his fellow four-stars. The ability to talk with peers is helpful for a high school student facing such a big and difficult decision.

"It's great to have them around to bounce things off of," he added. "It doesn't influence your decision or anything but it does help evaluate to hear how different coaches recruit and talk to their players."

If he earns an invitation to The Opening in July, Mayden told 11W that he plans to make a college announcement live from Beaverton.

BIG DAY AHEAD FOR HARBAUGH, WOLVERINES

We don't talk much about Michigan and their recruiting efforts here but tomorrow is a big day in Ann Arbor as it pertains to Jim Harbaugh's first full class. Right now, two of Michigan's top 15 players for 2016 are committed and neither are committed to the Wolverines. Tomorrow wide receiver Donnie Corley (No. 2), two-way lineman Michael Onwenu (No. 3) and Khalid Kareem (No. 7), are all visiting Ann Arbor, so it's a key night for Harbaugh. 

Kareem committed to Michigan State on February 1st, and then re-opened his recruitment two days later. He and Onwenu have each picked up an offer from Alabama in the last three days. For Michigan's football program to turn itself around, they're going to need to re-establish themselves as the place for Michigan's best players. Tomorrow could provide a barometric reading of how difficult that task will be after nearly 8 years of mediocrity.

120 Comments
View 120 Comments