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.
QB PIECES STILL MOVING AROUND
As it currently stands, Dwayne Haskins is the guy Ohio State is pursuing to replace the now departed Tristen Wallace at quarterback in its 2016 class. Other names will come and go, including some discussion around Texas A&M transfer Kyle Allen (who is one guy that could shake things up if he were truly interested), but for now the priority is Haskins, despite his commitment to Maryland.
The four-star quarterback, who made an official visit to Ohio State last weekend, is still considering LSU and Florida along with the Buckeyes and Terps. Tuesday, the country's top-ranked passer Jacob Eason, remained committed to Georgia rather than flipping to Florida. The Gators still have a commitment from Feleipe Franks at quarterback, so they remain at least an outside possibility for Haskins, even if it's a bit of a long-shot that he'd join a class with another quarterback.
Maryland has not yet made a final decision about what happens with Mike Locklsey and subsequently still has a major unanswered question at offensive coordinator. While there's the obvious issues on that front, there's also a notion from some that the Terrapins have taken Haskins' commitment for granted a bit since DJ Durkin's arrival and that has some scratching their head.
LSU, who had a commitment from Franks for months before he flipped to Florida, is a school to watch here. The Tigers are absolutely in need for a quarterback in this cycle and Haskins, along with Tylin Oden, are among those they've reached out to. If there's a team that could steal Haskins even later in the process, I think it's LSU, and so no matter what happens in the next few weeks, no matter where Haskins may be committed at the time, don't be surprised if an official visit to Baton Rouge is made in January.
BAMA, BUCKEYES LEADING THE WAY IN 2017 RIVALS 250
Another day, another updated "top prospects" list, this time it's Rivals and their 2017 Top 250.
Six of Ohio State's 10 2017 commitments are on the list.
Most 2017 #Rivals250 Commits by School (Top 5) #Bama 8 #OhioState 6 #Baylor 4 #NotreDame 4 #OU 4 Full Rankings: https://t.co/hN6XhmRdKb
— Rivals.com (@Rivals) December 15, 2015
Three Ohio State commits find themselves in the new Top 250. The Top 100 was noted yesterday:
- No. 111 • OL Jake Moretti
- No. 116 • DB Marcus Williamson
- No. 152 • ATH Brendon White
White was highlighted by Rivals as one of their top movers.
From Josh Helmboldt:
The debate over which side of the football the 6-foot-2, 190-pound White will play rages on. An Ohio State commit, White is a dynamic playmaker with the football in his hands, but his range and physicality on the other side of the football makes him highly coveted by defensive back coaches."
Quarterback Danny Clark, running back Todd Sibley, defensive tackle Jerron Cage and kicker Blake Haubeil are not in the Top 250, but a host of other Ohio State targets are strewn throughout 100-250.
- No. 113 • DT Darnell Ewell
- No. 117 • ATH Jamyest Williams
- No. 138 • RB Trey Sermon
- No. 147 • DB Ambry Thomas
- No. 148 • RB Adarius Lemons
- No. 158 • WR Jaylen Harris
- No. 168 • OL Micah Clark
- No. 183 • ATH Antjuan Simmons
- No. 198 • DL James Hudson
- No. 206 • WR Hunter Rison
- No. 246 • ATH Lynn Bowden
- No. 249 • LB Santino Marchiol
- No. 250 • OL Matt Bockhorst
Brendon White was not the only Ohio native to make a big leap in Rivals' rankings. Jaylen Harris, James Hudson, Amir Riep, Lynn Bowden and Matt Bockhorst all made a big move as well. Harris moved up 50 spots from No. 208 while the others went from unranked to inside the Top 250.
HUNTER RISON OFFERED BY OHIO STATE
Over the weekend Ohio State offered 2017 Ann Arbor (Skyline High School) wide receiver Hunter Rison, a former Michigan State commitment and the son of former Spartans' great Andre Rison.
Honored to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University pic.twitter.com/AowZKymODE
— Hunter Rison (@hunterrison) December 11, 2015
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Rison committed to Michigan State in June before re-opening his recruitment in mid-November in order to take a more thorough look at all his options. Alabama, USC and others have entered the fray since the summer and it forced the country's 40th-ranked 2017 wide receiver to slow down, thanks in part to Michigan State's restrictive visit policy for commitments.
Rison has not yet visited the Buckeyes but it wouldn't be surprising to see him on campus this winter for a junior day at Ohio State.
ISAIAH WILSON HAS BUCKEYES IN TOP GROUP
With two commitments at offensive tackle already in 2017, the Buckeyes can–and will–be selective as they ponder adding another at the position in that class. One player they'd like to get on campus to is Brooklyn, New York's Isaiah Wilson. The Poly Prep five-star, the country's 16th-ranked prospect in his class, has released an updated top schools list.
Thank you pic.twitter.com/j8otAAnNTN
— Isaiah Wilson (@savagezay74) December 15, 2015
The Buckeyes are on the list, but Michigan is and has been the clear leader for months.
