The Hurry Up: Four-Star Prospects Talk Upcoming Visits While North Carolina Linebacker Sets Commitment Date

By Andrew Lind on March 20, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Chase Williams
Chase Williams
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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.

COMMITMENT SEASON

With Spring Break over and practices ramping up once again, several of Ohio State's top targets will funnel into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for unofficial visits over the next few weeks. Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star linebacker Christopher Oats is among those who will make an appearance.

“[I'll be there] on the 25th,” Oats told Eleven Warriors.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Oats is considered the 11th-best outside linebacker and No. 215 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds 12 offers from programs such as Cincinnati, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska and Oklahoma, but told me the Buckeyes are still at the top of his list.

Oats has been to campus numerous times, but not since former Ohio State defensive coordinator Luke Fickell left for Cincinnati. The two had forged a great relationship, which is why the Bearcats will likely be the Buckeyes' greatest competition.

“[I'm looking forward to] building a relationship with coach [Bill] Davis,” Oats said.

DOES HE KNOW WHERE HE'S GOING?

Hillsborough, North Carolina, Orange four-star linebacker Payton Wilson announced on Twitter on Sunday evening he plans to make his college decision on May 1.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Wilson is considered the fourth-best outside linebacker and No. 107 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He recently unveiled a Top 7 of Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State, Penn State and Virginia Tech.

Wilson, who has recorded 163 tackles, 14 sacks and one interception in his two-year varsity career with the Panthers, will make his first trip to Columbus on April 1. You'd assume he'd have a destination in mind before setting a commitment date, which doesn't bode well for Ohio State, however.

GOING GOING BACK BACK TO CALI CALI

Shortly after five-star safety Jaiden Woodbey committed to Ohio State, the St. John Bosco product said he'd like to spearhead a California to Ohio movement. Among his targets, Corona, California, Eleanor Roosevelt four-star wide receiver Chase Williams, who told Eleven Warriors he'll visit campus on March 30.

“I have been talking to Jaiden for a while about the school and I decided to check it out,” Williams said. “Just to get a feel of the program and lifestyle over there and see what Ohio State is really about. It's a huge program, and I've heard a lot of good things about it. They've produced athletes every year.”

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Williams is considered the 23rd-best wideout and No. 118 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds a dozen offers from programs such as Arizona State, California, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC and Washington, but isn't necessarily worried about staying close to home.

“Even being from California, I don't mind leaving,” Williams said.

TAKING I-70 EAST

Indianapolis, Indiana, Warren Central four-star wide receiver David Bell will make his second trip to Ohio State on Tuesday and will bring teammates Julius Brents and Justin Britt.

“I'm really just looking to have another good time at Ohio State with a few of my teammates,” Bell told Eleven Warriors.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Bell is considered the ninth-best receiver and No. 55 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He holds offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Notre Dame and Syracuse.

Bell is looking forward to meeting up once again with Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who was the head coach for the Hoosiers when they offered him a scholarship.

Britt, a 6-foot-4, 267-pound defensive tackle, also holds an offer from Indiana. This will be his third time to campus, though the first two trips were for positional camps last summer.

“I'm looking forward to the trip,” Britt told Eleven Warriors. “I want to see some of the national championship [trophies] and I would like to see the weight room.”

Brents, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety. He holds 10 offers from programs such as Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Iowa, North Carolina State and Syracuse.

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