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.
BARROW TO ENROLL IN DECEMBER
Ohio State's top-ranked 2016 recruiting class got some good news on Tuesday night as the IMG Academy's Malik Barrow has decided he'll be enrolling early with the Buckeyes.
Rivals Exclusive: 2016 4* #Buckeyes DT commit Malik Barrow has decided to enroll early at OSU https://t.co/S2XEtqoDBf pic.twitter.com/EdbqT94GZX
— Ryan Donnelly (@RDonnellyBG) September 9, 2015
Barrow's father talked with Eleven Warriors about the decision.
"Ohio State offered a spot last week," Malcolm Barrow said. "We all talked and prayed about it. (It is a) big decision. Malik has been talking about it since enrolling at IMG; he only needed four classes to graduate. He's a NCAA qualifier with SAT and ACT scores and GPA all taken care of throughout his junior year, but he'll be taking them again anyways."
Barrow has skyrocketed up the national recruiting rankings during the early part of his senior season thanks to a few big games against big competition. His father attributes that to the decision to head to IMG.
"Defensive line coach Ernie Logan has significant NFL playing experience and and coaching at the college level," Barrow said. "Plus lots of good, young offensive lineman came in this fall also. (Malik) has definitely matured since starting in January. He's shown us he can handle being away from home as a student-athlete with a pretty intense, college-like schedule."
RICKY SLADE, JR CHECK OUTS A PAIR OF POTENTIAL OPTIONS
While the Buckeyes made their way to Blacksburg on Sunday, one of the few 2018 players they've offered – Woodbridge, Virginia's Ricky Slade, Jr. – was doing the same thing. The chance to check out two schools that are recruiting the talented tailback was worth the trip according to his father.
"We're just trying to see if he fits with the style of offense these programs play," Rick Slade, Sr. said. "We're just making as many visits as we can."
One of those visits will be Ohio State.
"We're planning on seeing the Buckeyes," Slade shared. "We'll be there when they play Penn State."
As for the trip to Virginia Tech and the game, the Slades thought the matchup was worth the watch, at least until Braxton Miller stole the show.
"It was a good visit," Slade added. "Until that spin move made us leave (laughing)."
KMET SAYS OCTOBER VISIT IS IN THE WORKS
Another of Ohio State's top targets, but this time in the 2017 class, is planning a trip to Columbus for the Penn State game as well.
"I am going to the Penn State game on October 17th," Illinois tight end Cole Kmet told 11W. "I talk to (Ohio State) constantly. Coach (Chris) Ash and Coach (Tim) Hinton direct message me (on Twitter) just about every day and I will talk to them over the phone about once a week. Coach (Urban) Meyer also gets ahold of me once a week too."
Ohio State offered the 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end this past summer following an impressive camp performance with the Buckeyes.
"They want me to be able to do everything (in their offense)," Kmet said of how Ohio State sees him in their system. "Coach Meyer and Coach Hinton always talk to me about how they want to develop me into a complete tight end."
The Buckeyes are not the only team on the trail of Kmet; he visited Notre Dame this past weekend and the Irish are right at the top of his list despite already having a commitment from Brock Wright, the country's top-ranked 2017 tight end. Brian Kelly's staff has made a big impression on Kmet and he's not worried about another verbal.
"I don't really look at it as a negative," he said of Wright's commitment. "I know Brock and I are different in our own ways and I know we could be used differently in certain situations."
Notre Dame and Ohio State have gone head-to-head for a number of prospects recently and it's looking like the four-star tight end will be another. He's hoping to decide soon.
"Notre Dame and Ohio State are the top two," Kmet said. "I will probably make a decision sometime after I go to Ohio State."
BURTON STILL HOPING TO VISIT THIS WEEK
One of the remaining defensive back prospects on Ohio State's 2016 recruiting board isn't sure he'll be making his official visit to Columbus this weekend.
"I have to talk to Chris Ash again," Gardena, California's Brandon Burton said. "I'm still going to visit, just don't know if its this week or another."
GATOR COMMIT CONSIDERING OSU OFFICIAL
One of the nation's top 2016 cornerbacks, Florida's (Cocoa) Chauncey Gardner, has been committed to the Gators since March. Gardner took to Twitter this evening to announce his official visit plans; plans that may include Ohio State.
My Official Visit 1.Florida State or Ohio State 2.Notre Dame 3.Georgia 4.Alabama 5.THE University Of Florida In Order
— STICK TALK (@StillDat_) September 9, 2015
Gardner is a teammate of 2017 Ohio State commit Bruce Judson and he recently visited Columbus for Friday Night Lights. The Buckeyes are in hot pursuit of a few others 2016 defensive backs – most notably Jordan Fuller and Damar Hamlin – but Gardner could be someone to keep an eye on.
HAWAII WEEK VISITOR LIST
Here's a list of players expected to visit Ohio State this weekend:
- 2016 OL Jack Wohlabaugh • Stow, Ohio
- 2016 TE Luke Farrell • Perry, Ohio
- 2016 DT Antwuan Jackson • Ellenwood, Georgia
- 2017 QB Danny Clark • Akron, Ohio
- 2017 RB Todd SIbley • Akron, Ohio
