The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s events with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
JACKSON PREPARING FOR KEY TRIPS
After a weekend trip to Atlanta to watch Auburn take on Louisville, Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, GA) defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson is planning another visit for the upcoming weekend. In speaking with Jackson, Eleven Warriors confirmed that the 2016 standout plans on being in Columbus this weekend to watch the Buckeyes take on Hawaii.
This will be Jackson's third visit since June, and while that doesn't quite match up to the dozen or so visits to Auburn, the Buckeyes continue to be in a good spot. Jackson's father has discussed his fondness for defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr., and that relationship should be critical as this recruitment unfolds. At this point it's not clear who will be accompanying Jackson this weekend, but getting his family back in town certainly would help. There has also been some discussion about teammate and 2016 linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse making a trip with him.
Jackson plans on making a few more visits before announcing a decision sometime within the next few months. He's eyeing the weekend of September 26th as another potential visit to Auburn and could return to Columbus again as well before deciding.
JOSH MYERS DOMINATES TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION
Ohio State commit and top 2017's top offensive tackle Josh Myers (Miamisburg, OH) has been nothing short of dominant thus far.
The Miamisburg squad faced off against against Fairmont over the weekend and the Buckeyes' top-rated 2017 commit helped pave the way to an overtime victory. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Marc Givler was at the game and provided some footage of Myers dominating the opposition.
Miamisburg's game was played Saturday morning as opposed to Friday night, thanks to to some storms in the area, and because of that the daytime heat and humidity did its best to be the only thing capable of stopping Myers.
"It was so hot out on that turf," the 2017 five-star told 11W. "We had like six kids stop the game for cramps, and mine just happened to be the worst."
These weren't your run-of-the-mill cramps.
"(The cramping) led to kidney failure, me and my running back both had to stay in the hospital until my kidneys were functioning right again," Myers said. "I'm out now and everything is all good."
He's expected to be back on the field this Friday night.
L'CHRISTIAN SMITH COULD BE BIG TIME 2018 PROSPECT
Although he's only got one offer at the moment, there's no doubt that Wayne (Huber Heights) 2018 wide receiver L'Christian Smith is a player to watch in Ohio. A 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore for the Warriors, Smith is talented basketball player and a dynamic football player. He's savvy enough that he was likely to be the starting quarterback for Wayne if Michigan State pledge Messiah deWeaver hadn't transferred in and his football days are really just getting started.
Kentucky (who offers newborns in Ohio, just to be sure) is the only offer at the moment but Smith's raw athletic ability combined with freakish size (for his age) make him a very intriguing player to watch over the next two summers. Ohio State and Penn State are among the programs looking into him already.
"He is so competitive with everything he does and the neat thing about him is you can't read that in him unless you know him," Wayne head coach Jay Minton told 11W. "(He's got ) so many natural talents. He is put together well and continues to get better each day. That is his competitive drive."
Being that competitive and that talented means that Smith may have to choose a sport down the road and stick with it. According to Minton, however, he's not a kid who loves one and "just plays" the other.
"(He loves) both and always will love both, so he is keeping his options open, but I believe that he it will begin to work itself out soon," Minton added. "I do believe he has better chances and opportunities in football and I am not saying that cause I am his football coach."
FULLER PLANNING OFFICIALS
247sports recruiting analyst Barton Simmons checked in with a top Buckeye target today, as he stopped by Old Tappan High School (Westwood, NJ) and spoke with 2016 athlete Jordan Fuller. While Fuller isn't exactly sure which schools will get official visits, the Buckeyes continue to be on his mind ($$).
“I haven’t decided which ones and where yet,” Fuller said. “I don’t know any schools (for sure) I’ll take officials to because possibly the more local schools I could just go (unofficial) visit them. So I’m not sure yet. (But) I’d say I’m pretty sure Ohio State will get one.”
Ohio State missed out on one defensive back target when Hickory (PA) safety Andrew Pryts pledged to the Nittany Lions just over a week ago. Fuller, the country's 10th-ranked athlete, has been a top target for the Buckeyes for some time and despite his relative laid-back approach to the media and what he shares, he was clear what makes the Buckeyes so appealing.
“Really they just have the best of everything put in place. They have a lot of programs put in place for you so you can be successful after football and obviously they have everything football wise you can ask for. So it’s really attractive there.”
