Welcome to The Hurry Up, which runs Sunday through Thursday, serving as your last stop for recruiting news and notes nightly. We'll recap the day as it happened and preview the days ahead while keeping our ear to the ground on the Ohio State recruiting scene.
LAST CHANCE FOR LIAM
Tomorrow the Buckeyes will host Cleveland St. Ignatius offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg. The trip will be a two-day visit and should be his final pre-commitment visit to any college campus. A two-day trip to Notre Dame last weekend has seen public opinion and sentiment about his decision sway a bit in the direction of the Irish, but a source close to the Buckeyes today said there was still reasonable optimism from Columbus about where things stand.
As for Eichenberg himself, he says there's still no decision made, and that he's not leaning in any specific direction. He does know that one of his reasons for this weekend's trip is to see a bit more closely how Ohio State's Ed Warinner handles his talented offensive line.
"I'm getting there about 10:00 a.m.," Eichenberg told Eleven Warriors. "I'm really looking to see how Warinner coaches."
Eichenberg will announce his college decision on Sunday via Twitter.
WADE WILL VISIT
Yesterday's Hurry Up had a brief section on Shaun Wade and the as-of-then uncertain terms of his potential weekend visit to Columbus. As you know, Wade – who committed to Ohio State hours before the Buckeyes won the national championship – has never been to campus, so the idea of a visit is a big for him and the Buckeyes. Wade informed me this afternoon that he would visit after all.
#Buckeyes 2017 commitment Shaun Wade will make his trip to Columbus this weekend - arrives tomorrow, will stay with Danny Clark.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) April 16, 2015
Friday - Sunday visit. RT @shaunwade2017: I will be at Ohio State this week #BucksNation!!!!
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) April 16, 2015
The visit happening is in itself a big thing. The visit happening on a weekend when Danny Clark can host him, Bruce Judson will be on campus, Josh Myers will be campus, Todd Sibley, Jr. and Marcus Williamson will be on campus? Huge thing. Wade is a national-level prospect and one that Ohio State is very interested in holding on to for the long haul.
BARROW ON COMMIT WATCH?
While the Buckeyes are not entirely sure what the likelihood is that they'll hear their name called by Liam Eichenberg on Sunday, the odds appear to be slanting in their favor for IMG Academy's Malik Barrow. Barrow, for the uninitiated, is a defensive end-turned-defensive tackle who Ohio State has been watching closely for a while.
Barrow, his mother and father will arrive in Columbus tomorrow morning and will stay through the weekend. Michigan State, Miami and Penn State have been the most likely challengers, but after talking to sources close to the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder it'd not be surprising if his recruitment ended this weekend.
CORLEY IN COLUMBUS
I told you all last week that Detroit Martin Luther King wide receiver Donnie Corley, Jr. was a likely visitor to the spring game festivities this weekend. His father confirmed with me on Wednesday night that he, his wife, and his 2016 prospect son would be arriving in town on Saturday morning. Corley is the country's 21st-ranked wide receiver and a player that is very high on Ohio State's list at his position.
Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee are a few of the schools that the Buckeyes are in contention with for his services.
BUCKEYES MAKE TOP TEN FOR FLORIDA SAFETY
Ohio State has been associated with a number of big-time prospects at the defensive back position so far in 2016 and today another one included the Buckeyes in his abbreviated college list. Craig Watts, a 6-foot-tall, 180-pound safety/running back from St. Petersburg, Florida, released his top ten schools.
My Top 10 so far no order pic.twitter.com/PirSKrVBdk
— Craig Watts Jr. (@NoFlyZone_2016) April 16, 2015
Watts has offers from nearly 30 schools and is being recruited by Ohio State's Chris Ash and Tim Hinton.
VISITORS LIST FOR THE WEEKEND
Big weekend, as we've been noting, but here's a look at some of the prospects that are expected. It's recruiting, therefore it's always tentative. There are a number of 2015 signees in attendance this weekend as well, but I will not list them here.
2016 TE Jake Hausmann
2016 OL Liam Eichenberg
2016 OL Michael Jordan
2016 OL Gavin Cupp
2016 OL Terrance Davis
2016 OL Jack Wohlabaugh
2016 DE Jonathon Cooper
2016 ATH Mark Gooden
2016 DT Mike Panasiuk
2016 DL Malik Barrow
2016 P Drue Chrisman
2017 QB Danny Clark
2017 RB Todd Sibley Jr.
2017 OL Josh Myers
2017 DL Jerron Cage
2017 DE James Hudson
2017 CB Shaun Wade
2017 DB Marcus Williamson
2017 ATH Bruce Judson
2017 ATH Jaylen Kelly-Powell
2018 OL Emil Ekiyor
2018 DT Taron Vincent
While I'm not going to out and out predict any predictions, it would not be surprising to see Ohio State reel in a couple big fish this weekend, especially in the 2017 class.
