The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s events with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
JUDSON DECOMMITS FROM OHIO STATE
As seen on the front page of the site earlier today, Cocoa, Florida's Bruce Judson made it official and decommitted from the Buckeyes Sunday afternoon. Way back in March, as the news of Jamel Dean leaving Ohio State started to make its way to the public sphere, I started to caution folks from being too comfortable when thinking about Judson in scarlet and gray come February of 2017.
So, Sunday, Judson, with this note on Twitter, re-opened his recruitment. I talked to Bruce on Friday, as he and his teammates were heading north to take on Lakewood St. Edward in Cleveland, and I spoke with him again this afternoon. He's always really liked Ohio State, so it's not a huge surprise to see him still listing the Buckeyes first and saying that he's not removing them from consideration. In fact, Judson says he's talked to Ohio State and told them the situation.
"I talked to (Tony) Alford for a long time, 35-45 minutes," Judson told 11W about the conversation with Ohio State, informing them of his decision. "I just want my family to trust coach Alford, Urban Meyer and the rest of the coaching staff, so my parents feel that they can trust me with them."
So, according to Judson, the plan is to still visit for the big November showdown with Michigan State.
"We are planning to visit for sure," Judson said. "Coach Alford told me to get my parents up here as soon as possible."
The Buckeyes have the country's top-ranked 2017 recruiting class currently and in general, they're a fast-moving train when it comes to decisions to be in or out. The four-star quarterback/athlete is hearing all the same "talk" about Florida and knows that he's risking his spot in the Ohio State class.
"I hear the rumors," he said about him being a "done deal" to the Gators. "Some people think that, but that's not the case. I know Ohio State has got to recruit other people, though."
HILL VISITS MICHIGAN STATE AGAIN
Speaking of potential decommitments (it might be a theme tonight), Ohio State 2016 pledge George Hill made another visit to Michigan State this weekend. Again, Hill watched as his close friend and former Hubbard teammate L.J. Scott rumbled through, over and around the Purdue defense to the tune of 146 yards and two scores while starring for the Spartans.
Hill, as we've said for months, is not likely to sign with the Buckeyes in February and continues to check out other options. Michigan State and Pittsburgh remain the most viable choices as I see it right now, and according to sources close to the Spartans he is a player they'd like to add.
Hill and the Buckeyes remain in contact, but there's an obvious urgency on his part to figure out what is the next likely step if things completely dissolve between the two parties. I'd expect to see the four-star athlete back in Columbus for a visit soon as well as another trip Pittsburgh and probably East Lansing.
STEPP CHECKS OUT HOOSIERS
Very rarely do I have anything in common with a sophomore high school football player, but on Saturday afternoon Markese Stepp and I were doing the exact same thing. The 2018 Cathedral (Indianapolis) running back and I were standing on the sidelines in Bloomington watching two talented football teams go toe-to-toe and try to remain undefeated.
The 6-foot, 205 pounder checked out the Hoosiers, who are at present the only team to have offered him a scholarship, and was very impressed by what he saw. I tweeted about it briefly yesterday, but there's no doubt that Indiana was primed and ready for a big show for the recruits that made it.
Stepp thought they acquitted themselves nicely.
"It was a great experience," Stepp told 11W. "The crowd was outstanding and it was probably the best college game I have seen in a while."
Ohio State saw Stepp twice for camps this past summer and he's a player they're watching closely for 2018. This past Friday night he rushed for 268 yards on 23 carries for Catheral, including this 88-yard jaunt.
WADE, JACKSON WATCH BULLDOGS
When the Buckeyes aren't at home, recruits visiting elsewhere is certainly newsworthy and this weekend at least a pair of potential Ohio State players headed to the Georgia-Alabama game to see the Bulldogs.
Shaun Wade, now the only Ohio State commit from Florida in the 2017 recruiting class, said that he was impressed by what Georgia has going on.
"It was good," Wade said of the visit. "They have a great staff."
In the 2016 class, defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson continued his tour of college football and once again saw the home state team. It's the second trip to check out Georgia in three weeks, sandwiched between visits to Ohio State and Auburn. Mark Richt's staff is working overtime to get involved and by most accounts have made up ground but still trail both the Buckeyes and the Tigers. Jackson is expected to make an official visit to Ohio State "soon" and make a college decision "soon" but "soon" is becoming a very flexible and moving target.
