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.
OHIO STATE AND NOTRE DAME CONTINUING RECRUITING BATTLE
Last year, Notre Dame came into Ohio–not once, but twice–and stole two of the Buckeye state's biggest prizes in offensive tackles Tommy Kraemer and Liam Eichenberg, away from Urban Meyer and Ohio State. The pair, citing the standard "comfort" at Notre Dame, were just one pair of the many recruiting battles that went down between the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish: Jake Hausmann, Austin Mack, Jordan Fuller and Luke Farrell all visited both schools before choosing the Scarlet and Gray.
After meeting in living rooms around the country, the two sides met on the field in Phoenix in January, with the Buckeyes coming out on top. That's a theme that's been fairly common so far in the 2017 recruiting cycle so far, but if the last few months have been any indicator, the developing rivalry isn't likely to slow down.
From Rivals.com
National Signing Day might be 11 months away, but it’s already clear for Notre Dame that the biggest threat to the Irish on the recruiting trail this cycle will be Ohio State.
The Buckeyes beat the Irish for Antjuan Simmons Tuesday and IMG safety Isaiah Pryor last summer. Both prospects were thought to be leaning towards Notre Dame. The key for both was–of course–comfort.
“They were one of my first offers, so I got to know them a lot,” Pryor said. “I went a lot of places, but I just felt the most comfortable with the environment there. The coaches were nice at Notre Dame, but I just felt like I belonged at Ohio State.”
Cincinnati defensive tackle Jerron Cage, whose brother Daniel plays in South Bend and Colorado offensive lineman Jake Moretti picked Urban Meyer ahead of Brian Kelly last summer. They picked up a commitment from defensive tackle Haskell Garrett and Shaun Wade, both of whom may end up visiting Notre Dame still, but the Buckeyes continue to hold the dominant position.
Of course, Notre Dame beat the Buckeyes for the offensive tackles listed above, but they also topped Ohio State for tight end Cole Kmet, one of their four 2017 pledges, and will go head-to-head on five-star Josh Kaindoh among others as the cycle unwinds. The Irish won't give up their chase on Cage, Garrett or any other players currently committed to Ohio State either.
If you think Michigan and Michigan State are the biggest concerns on the recruiting trail, you're missing the Golden-Domed Elephant in the room.
TUFELE OFFERED
I mentioned it Tuesday night, but the Buckeyes extended another offer to a 2017 defensive tackle, Utah's Jay Tufele, the country's third-ranked prospect at the position.
Its an Honor and privilege to say I have received an offer from Ohio state University! #thankful #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/HUIBjTsYvZ
— Jay Tufele (@tufele123) March 1, 2016
Tufele, who hails from South Jordan, Utah, has offers from almost 20 schools including USC, Oregon, UCLA, Michigan and others.
Ohio State currently has one player on their roster with a Utah connection, redshirt freshman offensive lineman Branden Bowen, and he almost immediately responded to the news of his friend's offer.
@tufele123 @BrandonHuffman @bangulo come join the family bro
— Branden Bowen (@BrandenBowen) March 2, 2016
Expect to see Tufele on campus with the Buckeyes sometime this summer.
AMBRY THOMAS NARROWING DOWN HIS LIST
There are a number of names on Ohio State's defensive back board and Detroit's Ambry Thomas remains one of them.
Tuesday, the country's 13th-ranked cornerback released his most recent "Top Schools" list and it's not a surprise, but the Buckeyes are on the list.
Top schools as of now pic.twitter.com/exEHc5BhV3
— Ambry Thomas 13 (@Tavonn_) March 2, 2016
Thomas is the cousin of fellow Ohio State target Jaylen Kelly-Powell, who plays across town at Detroit Cass Tech. The pair made multiple visits to Columbus during the 2015 football season and also camped with the Buckeyes during Friday Night Lights last July.
BOSA TALKS ON CAMERA WITH BUCKEYEGROVE.COM
Nick Bosa doesn't do many interviews, so when he does, it's worth watching just to see a slightly different version of the Bosa we've spent the last years seeing face-to-face in Columbus.
Nick talked with Kevin Noon of BuckeyeGrove.com in the halls of St. Thomas Aquinas about his surgery, his rehab, his future with the Buckeyes and the chance to play for Urban Coach Meyer.
It's almost crazy how similar Nick and his brother are when you see it like that.
