The Hurry Up: Two More Buckeyes Getting Open, California Love, Ohio State at IMG and More

By Jeremy Birmingham on May 16, 2016 at 7:45 pm
Ohio State commitment Brendon White has been invited to The Opening
Brendon White
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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.

MORETTI, WHITE GET INVITED TO THE OPENING

Two more future Buckeyes earned an invitation the Nike's The Opening, which takes place this July in Beaverton, Oregon. The day started with Top 100 offensive lineman Jake Moretti getting invited, and a couple of hours later, Olentangy Liberty athlete Brendon White joined him.

For White, it was the proverbial dream come true.

"Hard work really pays off," White, who was at the Nike regional camp in Columbus nine days ago, said. "They told me last Tuesday. I was really excited, it's a dream come true."

Moretti didn't get the invitation immediately, though he may have been the most versatile offensive lineman at the Columbus camp. When he makes his way to Oregon, expect to see the Arvada, Colorado lineman suit up at all three offensive line spots.

White and Moretti are the sixth and seventh Buckeye commitments to earn an invite to this summer's event. They'll join Marcus Williamson, Isaiah Pryor, Antjuan Simmons, J.K. Dobbins and Haskell Garrett in Oregon.

Although he didn't get invited today, there's still a pretty good chance that Miamisburg, Ohio's Josh Myers – the country' top-ranked offensive lineman – will end up receiving his own invitation in the next few weeks. 

"He's not part of this group of invites," one sourced connected to The Opening shared. "He has a great shot of getting in eventually, but we have two more camps to get through."

DARNAY HOLMES, TYJON LINDSEY TALK OHIO STATE WITH RIVALS

Once again, the best in the West were on football fields in California this past weekend, taking part in the Adidas SoCal Invitational, a major 7-on-7 tournament that was held in Redondo Beach. 

Tate Martell and his Bishop Gorman teammates prevailed in the tournament, knocking off Tyjon Lindsey and Corona (California) Centennial in the finals. 

Lindsey – as well as Darnay Holmes – talked to Rivals about recruiting and where things stand with the Buckeyes.

The five-star wide receiver from Corona said the Buckeyes' NFL success has played a major part in his feelings about Ohio State.

“They know how to produce guys. Every football player wants to go to the NFL and if you don’t want to then why are you playing football? It’s a great opportunity to take if you go to Ohio State.”

Lindsey also went on to say that the pressure and push from Nebraska, who has made a major impact in California, has forced him to reconsider a summer decision. 

For Holmes, who was expected to decide this summer, the Buckeyes are the ones that have upped their attention.

“Ohio State has been coming hard but they’re coming a lot harder now after the draft,” Holmes said. “The coach stayed at my school the whole day. He showed I’m an important guy to their program so that means a lot.

Holmes is expected to be in Ohio for Friday Night Lights in July and has plans to take an official visit to Ohio State for their late-November home game against Michigan.

DYLAN MOSES THINKING ABOUT OHIO STATE?

Straight out of the "I'll Believe it When I See It" department of the 11W Recruiting offices.

Dylan Moses wants to visit Ohio State

That's IMG linebacker Dylan Moses, the country's second-ranked 2017 prospect and former LSU, commitment commenting about his desire to see Ohio State this fall. The comment comes the same day that Luke Fickell was at IMG, so no doubt there has been some continued conversation with the Buckeyes, but you shouldn't read too much into it presently.

Moses is from Baton Rouge and has an offer from any school he wants one from, including Ohio State, who offered in April of 2014, a good six months after his commitment to Les Miles and the Tigers.

Stay tuned.

BECK AT IMG TO SEE MOND AGAIN

Traveling with Luke Fickell today and also stopping at IMG was Ohio State quarterback coach Tim Beck.

Beck's primary reason for the stop was of course Baylor commitment Kellen Mond, who is one of the top quarterbacks still vying for a spot in the Buckeyes' 2017 recruiting class.

We could be no more than weeks away from the conclusion of this quarterback conundrum and each of these stops, to build relationships and to evaluate even more closely, is vital.

CLARIFYING NEW DEFENSIVE LINE OFFER JORDAN WILLIAMS

On Friday, we talked about the latest 2017 defensive lineman to get an Ohio State offer, Virginia's Jordan Williams, who is listed as a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end by all major recruiting services. A four-star defensive end, the offer to Williams had some wondering about Ohio State and their pursuit of Maryland's Chase Young, but fear not, there's been some clarification.

I received a text message on Sunday morning from a source close to the Ohio State recruiting efforts and they let me know that Williams is actually being recruited as a defensive tackle.

The Buckeyes have two defensive tackle commitments currently but they're still on the prowl for a third. Williams may not be in the top group (with Marvin Wilson, Jay Tufele and Aubrey Solomon) yet but a camp performance this summer in Columbus – if he chooses to make the trip – could push him into that conversation.

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