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.
Greetings from Arizona.
The Hurry Up will be here all week–except for Friday–as you've come to expect, but with time changes and little recruiting activity on the Buckeyes' end, I hope you'll all bear with me if the nightly updates a bit less meaty than normal.
JAMAR KING HEARING FROM THE BUCKEYES, SETS OFFICIAL VISIT
Although Louisiana's Rashard Lawrence remains the primary target at defensive tackle, the Buckeyes are beginning to widen their search, including some peeks at the JUCO level.
Jamar King, a 6-foot-5, 285-pounder at Mendocino College in Ukiah, California, says the Buckeyes have been in contact recently.
"Last week was my first time hearing from Ohio State," King, who earned All-Conference honors as a freshman in 2014 for the Eagles, told Eleven Warriors. "They said they like my style of play, that I'm big, aggressive and fast."
The JUCO standout is originally from Detroit (Denby High School) and the 2014 All-Conference selection says he's always had an affinity for Ohio State.
"They were kind of right next door," King said of what made the Buckeyes appealing to him. "Michigan State was always my favorite team, but Ohio State was a team I always kept an eye on because I love their style of play."
Alabama offered King on Christmas, and he'll make an official visit to Tuscaloosa on Jan. 22. He said the Buckeyes haven't yet discussed an offer, but he'll come to Columbus the weekend of Jan. 30. Right now, he's just trying to wrap his head around the changes in his recruitment.
"Catching me off-guard can't even describe it," King said of the new attention. "I'm just trying to not get over excited about it."
SOLOMON STILL LISTING OHIO STATE ON TOP
Although he's not yet visited Ohio State, 2017 defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, continues to say all the right things about the Buckeyes. The Leesburg, Georgia, star, who is the country's seventh-ranked defensive tackle, listed Ohio State at the top of his list of eight schools in early December and, at this past weekend's Elite Junior Classic in Georgia, said they've still got the advantage.
The reason?
"I just like the family vibe they give," Solomon told 247Sports.com.
Solomon was introduced to the Buckeyes during their recruitment of Stephen Collier, who played at Lee County High School for one year with the 6-foot-3, 305 pounder.
Ohio State expects to see Solomon, who lists Auburn, Florida State, Florida and Georgia along with the Buckeyes in his top-five, sometime in January for one of their big junior weekends.
Although Jerron Cage is already committed for 2017, the Buckeyes are certain to try and add at least two at the position; could Solomon be next?
BRANDON BURTON DISCUSSES BUCKEYES AT UNDER-ARMOUR GAME
The Under-Armour All-American game is this coming Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Florida, and although two Ohio State commitments were selected for the game, neither Nick Bosa or Tyler Gerald are likely to play as they recover from a knee and shoulder injuries.
There are a lot of key storylines to watch this week and we'll do our best to bring you the updates from St. Pete as they come out, but one key player for the Buckeyes is California safety Brandon Burton.
The four-star safety from Gardena, the sixth-ranked player at his position nationally, who visited Ohio State officially in November, remains one of the top players on the board for the Buckeyes at defensive back. Unfortunately, with the departure of Chris Ash, Urban Meyer's squad is likely playing from behind as they attempt to reconnect with a new assistant coach.
Although UCLA has been considered the favorites for Burton for some time and Serra High School has been a bit of a feeder program for USC, Florida State shouldn't be discounted according to folks around the country.
Burton will make his college decision this weekend.
