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.
A BOOMING RENDITION
Ohio State has hosted a number of top-rated prospects for unofficial visits throughout the spring, but no weekend is more important than the one upcoming.
More than 50 recruits, including the top-rated running back (Zamir White), offensive tackle (Jackson Carman) and defensive end (Micah Parsons), will all be on hand. Of course, the question on everyone's mind quickly becomes, "Who is on commitment watch?"
The most likely commit doesn't come from someone in the current recruiting class, but instead from the Class of 2019. Lexington four-star linebacker Cade Stover was offered a scholarship while on campus just over two weeks ago, and it was honestly a surprise he didn't pull the trigger in the days following. He'll return to campus with his family once again, and I fully expect him to leave as the first sophomore pledge.
In that same breath, Olentangy Orange four-star defensive end Zach Harrison has been on campus a handful of times this offseason. If the staff pushes for his commitment, Ohio State would have two of the best sophomores in the state already locked down, which would be huge considering the Buckeyes didn't land their first commitment from the Class of 2018 until running back Brian Snead made the call at Friday Night Lights in July.
Butler, Pennsylvania, three-star offensive guard Jake Kradel was on campus around the same time as Stover, also earning a scholarship offer from Ohio State. He wasn't shy about naming the Buckeyes his leader, either — with Maryland and Pittsburgh not far behind — but wanted to hold off until he could get more familiar with the staff. This weekend offers such an opportunity, and, again, if pressed, could become the sixth member of Supreme '18.
While I expect him to take his time, the same goes for Erie, Pennsylvania, Cathedral Prep four-star offensive guard Fredrick "Juice" Scruggs. He listed Ohio State and Penn State as his Top 2 during last weekend's The Opening Cleveland Regional, and will return to campus for the second time in three weeks. Things are certainly trending toward the Buckeyes at this juncture, and it's only a matter of how many guards the staff wants to take and how early in the process they'd like to solidify that position.
Beyond that, keep in mind the aforementioned Parson, a Penn State commit, is making his fourth trip in six months to campus. He'll be closely followed by Ohio State four-star running back commit Jaelen Gill, who said he uses every opportunity he can to plant the seed in Parson's head that he'll end up a Buckeye.
White, meanwhile, will be the only running back on campus. It speaks volumes that he's paying his way to campus for the third time in under a year, too, so this is the perfect opportunity for Ohio State to get itself back into the conversation after he left the Buckeyes out of his Top 4 last month.
And last, but certainly not least, Carman returns to campus for the first time since he said Clemson was his leader. He said the staff has turned things up in his recruitment, and I fully expect him to get the red carpet treatment. It'll be it'll be interesting to see how it unfolds now that Ohio State isn't the assumed favorite anymore.
JAY TUFELE PART II?
It feels like every year there's a highly rated recruit from the Northwest part of the country who is high on Ohio State early in the process despite having never been on campus. Last year, it was Jay Tufele who the Buckeyes chased all the way through signing day, only to watch him pick USC.
Will the same thing be said next February when it comes to Pocatello, Idaho, Highland four-star defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, who included Ohio State in his Top 8 on Thursday night alongside Michigan, Penn State, TCU, USC, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin?
Beyond Blessed to announce my top 8!!! pic.twitter.com/LhixaPqQ9B
— Tommy Togiai (@Big_Tom71) April 14, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Togiai is considered the 14th-best defensive tackle and No. 151 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He was named Idaho's Defensive Player of the Year after he recorded 62 tackles and six sacks to help the Rams to the state playoffs last season.
A TIME GONE BY
There was a point in time — about two months ago, to be exact — when it looked as if Mount Holly, New Jersey, Rancocas Valley four-star athlete Iverson Clement would commit to Ohio State at the first chance he got. He said it was a life-long dream of his to play for the Buckeyes, but with the aforementioned Gill about to commit, the staff was in no hurry to accept his pledge.
So his February visit came and went without a whimper, and the marriage seemed less and less likely as each day went by. Clement all but closed the door when he committed to Florida on Thursday night.
Let's eat! If you ain't a Gator, you Gator bait#AllBite18 pic.twitter.com/MlvnDF4SCg
— Iverson Clement (@Swaggy__ai) April 13, 2017
Quite frankly, with two running backs already in the fold and the staff still chasing Tavion Thomas and the above-mentioned White, it's hard to envision a scenario where he reopens his recruitment and seriously gives the Buckeyes another look. Such is life on the recruiting trail, though.
