The Hurry Up: Ohio State Makes Cut for Pair of Mid-Atlantic Prospects While Staff Extends New Offers

By Andrew Lind on April 20, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Jordyn Adams
Jordyn Adams
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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.

TOM HERMAN'S TEARS

Replicating the success Ohio State had in Texas in this year's recruiting cycle won't be easy, as the Buckeyes landed three of the state's top six players.

That feat doesn't seem so far-fetched, though, after Houston, Texas, Lamar five-star cornerback Anthony Cook included Ohio State in his Top 10 on Thursday morning alongside Baylor, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Texas and USC.

The 6-foot-1, 168-pound Cook is considered the second-best cornerback and No. 9 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He and his family were on campus for the first time last weekend for the annual Spring Game.

"He had a great visit to Columbus," Lamar defensive backs coach Theadis Reagins told Eleven Warriors. "He mentioned how he felt Ohio State was on an entirely different level from most schools [he's] visited and how the environment awed him."

As mentioned in yesterday's edition of The Hurry Up, that includes trips to Baylor, Clemson, Texas and Texas A&M.

Cook, who is good friends with Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, is undoubtedly the staff's top priority at the position. And while signing six defensive backs in 2017 might hurt their chances, the Buckeyes will certainly go all-out to land the top-rated cornerback in the state for the second-consecutive year.

NEEDS A RENEWED FOCUS

Cary, North Carolina, Green Hope four-star wide receiver Jordyn Adams also made his first trip to Columbus this weekend. As a result, he included Ohio State in his Top 5 alongside Alabama, Clemson, LSU and North Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Adams is considered the 35th-best wideout and No. 173 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, though he threw for 2,350 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed for 793 yards and 11 touchdowns last seasons as the quarterback for Blythewood, South Carolina. He transferred to Green Hope in January to be closer to his father, Deke, who is the defensive line coach at East Carolina.

Adams is also a standout on the baseball diamond, hitting .423 with a home run and 14 runners batted in for the Falcons this spring.

The Tar Heels are the heavy favorite in Adams' recruitment, with the Tigers also in the conversation. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, would have to shift their focus away from higher-rated wide receivers like Missouri's Kamryn Babb and Florida's Joshua Moore in order to have a chance.

ODD MAN OUT?

Waldorf, Maryland, North Point four-star offensive tackle Rasheed Walker also narrowed things down on Wednesday night, including Ohio State in his Top 6 alongside Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound Walker is considered the 17th-best offensive tackle and No. 201 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He visited campus for the first time in late March.

Wih Tennessee four-star offensive tackle Max Wray already in the the fold, Walker's possible commitment will hinge upon Fairfield five-star Jackson Carman. Ohio State is the presumed leader despite Carman's interest in Clemson, and if he chooses to stay home, it's hard to see a spot for Walker in the class.

ROCKET'S EVENTUAL BOOM

Ohio State offered a scholarship on Wednesday night to Wayne, New Jersey, DePaul Catholic four-star athlete “Rocket” Ronnie Hickman.

"[It] means everything. It's just a dream come true," Hickman told Eleven Warriors. "[I've been a fan] ever since I could walk."

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Hickman is considered the 13th-best athlete and No. 120 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he hauled in 42 catches for 660 yards and four touchdowns to help the Spartans to the state championship game last season. He also recorded 48 tackles and two interceptions as a safety, which is where the Buckeyes see him playing at the next level.

Hickman — who holds a small, but impressive offer list from programs such as Boston College, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers and Wisconsin — also made his first trip to Columbus this weekend. He spent a majority of the time on campus with defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.

"The visit was great," Hickman said. "I loved it."

Though he has his dream offer in hand, Hickman is in no hurry to end his recruitment.

“I just want to enjoy the process for right now,” he said.

KEEPING OPTIONS ON THE TABLE

The Buckeyes also extended a scholarship offer on Wednesday night to Warminster, Pennsylvania, Archbishop Wood three-star tight end Kyle Pitts.

The 6-foot-5, 224-pound Pitts is considered the 19th-best tight end and No. 452 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded 28 catches for 394 yards and six touchdowns to help the Vikings to the state championship last season. He recently unveiled a Top 8 of Florida, Maryland, Miami, Oklahoma, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and UCLA, but things can certainly change with an offer from a school like Ohio State.

The Buckeyes will look to take two tight ends in next year's recruiting class, but New Jersey four-star Jeremy Ruckert seems to be the only solid option. With four-star Brevin Jordan's commitment to Miami and Mustapha Muhammad on the verge of picking Michigan, the staff isn't going to sit idly.

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