The Hurry Up: Top Coloradan Makes Unplanned Visit, Injured Wideout Commit Continues Rehab and Four-Star Texan Puts Ohio State in Top Two

By Andrew Lind on November 11, 2016 at 5:30 pm
Adrian Jackson
Adrian Jackson
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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.

FEELING MILE HIGH

Following Saturday's game against Nebraska, Denver, Colorado, Mullen four-star linebacker Adrian Jackson said he's never been in such an atmosphere.

"The game's energy vibe was really high," Jackson told Eleven Warriors. "From the crowd and from the players, they had that energy to dominate and that's what they did."

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is considered the top player in the state and the seventh-best outside linebacker in the Class of 2018. He currently holds offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Nebraska and Utah, but Ohio State has been his leader for quite some time. 

"Ohio State is at the top of my list, while other schools stand behind," Jackson said. "The program is really organized. Everything they do is precise. They have that family atmosphere. They are always talking about brotherhood, and I like that."

The distance between Columbus and Denver is not an issue for Jackson, as he previously told me he's looking to leave the state for college.

THE COMEBACK TRAIL

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas five-star wide receiver Trevon Grimes tore his ACL in late September and was walking around on crutches during his official visit to Columbus on Saturday. But the Ohio State commit is seemingly ahead of schedule on his road to recovery, posting a video to Twitter this week of himself doing leg presses in the weight room. 

The workout, mind you, comes less than one month after his surgery. 

The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder was injured in the fourth quarter of Aquinas nationally televised triple-overtime loss to Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman. 

He'll obviously miss the remainder of the year, making it more difficult for the Raiders to capture their third-consecutive state title, but he is expected to be fully recovered by the time he arrives on campus.

EARLY RETURNS APPEAR POSITIVE

Cuero, Texas, four-star wide receiver Jordan Whittington acknowledged it will be tough to make it to Columbus before his senior season. But the sixth-best athlete in the Class of 2019 told me he has Ohio State in his Top 2 nonetheless.

"We just always keep in contact. They show major love," Whittington told Eleven Warriors, noting he mainly speaks with wide receivers coach Zach Smith. "He's one of, if not the most livest out there."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder currently holds offers from programs such as Baylor, Houston, Missouri, Texas A&M, TCU and Texas Tech. He said the Aggies are also in his Top 2 at the moment. 

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller three-star junior defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins has roughly 15 months before National Signing Day 2018, but he's hoping to make a decision sooner rather than later.

“Hoping to finish things up late winter,” Hawkins told Eleven Warriors.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is considered the 15th-best player in the state and the No. 30 defensive tackle in the Class of 2018. He currently holds offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

"The three schools recruiting me the hardest are Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame,” Hawkins said. “I'm not narrowing it down to just those three yet, but they are some of my favorites.”

Hawkins took an unofficial visit to Columbus for the Oct. 1 game against Rutgers.

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