The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
THE TIDE CONTINUES TO ROLL
Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy five-star linebacker Dylan Moses announced on Twitter Sunday afternoon that he was committing to Alabama.
The top-rated outside linebacker in the Class of 2017 previously planned on revealing his college decision at the Under Armour All-American Game on Jan. 1, but instead pulled the trigger following an official visit to Tuscaloosa over the weekend.
Ready to work #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/zCoH9GlL0y
— King oses (@Dylan1Moses_) October 2, 2016
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder said just last week that he would also take official visits to Houston, Miami, Ohio State and Texas and an unofficial visit to LSU before making a decision. The Tigers were the presumed team to beat, but Les Miles' firing opened the door for Alabama to seal the deal.
With Moses in the fold, the Crimson Tide now have three of the top five players in the Class of 2017, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. For comparison's sake, however, Ohio State remains the top overall class with 6 five-star commits among the top 28 prospects.
I know it's October and what not but lol pic.twitter.com/ogUhke5zeB
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) October 2, 2016
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Lithonia, Georgia, Miller Grove three-star defensive end Brenton Cox made the trip to Columbus for Saturday's game against Rutgers and walked away with an offer in hand.
Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State pic.twitter.com/8c3CfJppJH
— Brenton (@Brenton_cox) October 1, 2016
"[The] trip was eight hours long, but was worth it. I had a great time there," Cox told Eleven Warriors. "I like the atmosphere. It was great."
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Cox is considered the 14th-best strong-side defensive end and the No. 31 overall prospect in the peach state for the Class of 2018. He currently holds 14 offers from programs such as Alabama, Louisville, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
"[The] offer means a lot to me because they compete for the national championship every year," Cox said.
TOP OF THE LIST
Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins was on campus this weekend for an unofficial visit, after which he spent time with head coach Urban Meyer, defensive line coach Larry Johnson and defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs.
It was Hawkins' first trip to Columbus since Ohio State offered a scholarship last month and first time he watched the Buckeyes play live.
“It was awesome man! The atmosphere was amazing,” he told Eleven Warriors. “It was a lot different [than my previous trips]. I felt like more of a priority and it was a good opportunity to check everything out.”
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Hawkins is considered the 16th-best player in the state for the Class of 2018. He currently holds 13 offers from programs such as Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.
WPIAL'S BEST
Ohio State has expressed quite a bit of interest in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, safety Kwantel Raines as of late and invited the four-star prospect to Columbus for an unofficial visit this weekend.
Ohio state game was live now On my way to pitt
— Telly Mac (@KwantelRaines) October 1, 2016
The Buckeyes haven't offered yet, but the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder spent some time with defensive coordinator Luke Fickell after the game.
Raines is considered the fifth-best player in the state and the No. 11 safety in the Class of 2018. He currently has 16 scholarship offers from schools such as Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, but hopes to add Ohio State to the collection.
“[It would be an offer from a school that's more than likely going to be one of my top schools,” Raines told Eleven Warriors. “I like Ohio State's style of play and the level they play at.”
Raines will get another look at the Buckeyes when they travel to Penn State on Oct. 22.
SINCERE INTEREST?
Loganville, Georgia, Grayson four-star safety DeAngelo Gibbs has seemingly come out of nowhere to announce he'll take an official visit to Ohio State this season. Gibbs is considered the third-best safety and the No. 41 overall player in the Class of 2017.
“Southern Cal, Miami, LSU, Ohio State and Alabama,” Gibbs told 247Sports ($). “I believe those will be my official visits.”
The Buckeyes offered Gibbs in August 2014, but he hasn't been to Columbus since. For the same reason I believe every prospect should attempt to take an official visit to Hawai'i, it looks as if Gibbs' interest in Ohio State is solely to take a trip to a place he's never been on the school's dime.
The 6-foot-2 , 204-pounder has more than 30 offers from top programs from across the country, but Georgia and Tennessee are considered the favorites by 247Sports Crystal Ball prognostications.
