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.
PULL THAT PEACH STATE PROSPECT
Stockbridge, Georgia, four-star defensive end Brenton Cox has had things narrowed down to Georgia and Ohio State for quite some time. But following an unofficial visit for the Buckeyes' Spring Game over the weekend, it looks as if he's ready to make a decision on his future sooner rather than later.
“I have been wanting to commit and get it all over with, so I will be committing very soon," Cox told Rivals' Chad Simmons. “I am thinking Sunday right now. I will be at Georgia for their spring with my family, and that will be my last visit before I make my decision. I think I know where I want to go, but my mind is not completely made up yet. I wanted my mom to see everything before I made my decision, so now that she has visited Ohio State [and] is going back to Georgia, I feel I am ready.”
The 6-foot-5, 247-pound Cox is considered the third-best strong-side defensive end and No. 56 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He is close with four-star dual-threat quarterback commit Emory Jones and has been to Columbus three time in the last six months, but this was the first time with his mother.
Those close to the program feel confident about Ohio State's chances, though Cox — a Tampa native — has been very open about where his family's allegiances lie, as well as their disdain for the cold weather.
“It is all about the coaches, the players and the tradition with me and Ohio State,” Cox said. “I know a lot about their history, their coaching staff is great and I like a lot of their players. I have a great connection with coach [Larry] Johnson, and he really knows how to coach the best. He has a rotation on the defensive line and I like how he uses his players.”
As for how his mother feels about the Buckeyes?
“She got some time with coach Urban Meyer and she really liked it up there,” Cox said. “I think Ohio State was her favorite visit.”
The momentum is certainly in Ohio State's favor at the moment, but Georgia has the upper hand with the final visit. Cox could go either way with his decision, but I think he ends up with the Buckeyes when it's all said and done thanks to the staff's ability to mold him into an NFL player.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT
Santa Ana, California, Mater Dei four-star linebacker Solomon Nokeakua-Stroud Tuliaupupu, meanwhile, made his first trip to Ohio State for the Spring Game. He flew in Thursday and head home Saturday evening.
“He really enjoyed it,” his father, Turnbull, told Eleven Warriors, noting they only briefly talked about the trip because Sunday was Easter and he left for an unofficial visit to Alabama this morning. “He talked about football and building your brand. How football is not the only avenue for you.”
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Tuliaupupu is considered the third-best inside linebacker and No. 59 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds more than 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and Washington.
The Trojans are the presumed favorite due in part to Tuliaupupu's Polynesian roots, but his father says people shouldn't just assume he'll end up in Los Angeles.
“I told him, 'Don't let distance minimize your thoughts,'” Turnbull said. “If it's the best fit for him... It's safe to say [Ohio State is] one of his top schools.”
Tuliaupupu will most likely take all five official visits this fall before making a decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January 2018 or on National Signing Day. As for what will be the deciding factor in his decision?
“There's not really [an] ultimate factor,” Turnbull said. “An important one will be life after football and how he can maximize his opportunity.”
LET'S PUT A SATELLITE CAMPUS IN ATLANTA
Atlanta, Georgia, Hapeville Charter three-star cornerback Chris Smith II, to nobody's surprise, included Ohio State in his Top 6 on Monday afternoon alongside Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and South Carolina.
Top 6#blessed pic.twitter.com/oOUpjCxVk5
— Chris Smith ll (@cpsmithdb) April 17, 2017
The 6-foot, 165-pound Smith is rated the 42nd-best corner and No. 480 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded 17 tackles and five interceptions for the Hornets last season. He holds more than two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, USC and Virginia Tech.
Smith visited campus last month, at which time the Buckeyes extended a scholarship offer. His relationship with defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs certainly played a factor in his decision.
"I think he's great," Smith told Eleven Warriors. "He always speaks highly of me, and I love that."
FAST-RISING FROSH
Cibolo, Texas, Steele safety Lejond Cavazos is already one of the most sought-after freshmen in the country, holding scholarship offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and USC.
He added one from Ohio State, too, while on an unofficial visit for the Buckeyes' Spring Game.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE hio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/KhySzbty5y
— Lejond Cavazos (@lejondaryy) April 14, 2017
“It means a lot, especially because it's DBU,” Cavazos told Eleven Warriors. “Coach [Urban] Meyer gave me the offer. I was very surprised.”
The 6-foot, 185-pound Cavazos joins Tennessee offensive tackle Jake Wray — the younger brother of commit Max Wray — and Georgia defensive tackle Myles Hinton as the only prospects from the Class of 2020 to earn an offer from Ohio State.
“We saw all the facilities and I got to see some of the ex-players walking around,” he said.
Cavazos made the two-day trip with his father and hopes to return this summer with his mother.
