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.
STORM WANING OR STORM WARNING?
Sunday night, Miami fired Al Golden, its embattled head coach, following Saturday's epic beatdown against Clemson. As has been the case a few times already this season, when a coach goes by the wayside, the question becomes "can Ohio State make a move on any of their commitments?"
The first name to watch with the Buckeyes is, of course, wide receiver Sam Bruce. Bruce, a four-star wide receiver from Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas who made an official visit to Ohio State during the Oct. 17 weekend, was among the first to react to Golden's firing on social media.
Wooooooooooooow!
— 6-3 (@_QUICK6) October 25, 2015
There's been some speculation that Bruce would re-open his recruitment if Golden was fired, and although he didn't completely close the door on that possibility, he made every attempt to quiet the rumblings.
I didn't commit to no damn coach! I committed to the U.
— 6-3 (@_QUICK6) October 26, 2015
Ohio State and Florida are the two most likely schools to benefit from a Bruce decommitment, according to sources I've talked to, but my gut still says he ends at up Miami regardless. His relationship with wide receivers' coach Kevin Beard has been the driving force in his recruitment thus far and Bruce added one more tweet to that effect.
As long KB there, I'm there.
— 6-3 (@_QUICK6) October 26, 2015
In the 2016 class, outside of Bruce, there's really only one name to watch and that's linebacker Zach McCloud. A four-star prospect, McCloud, was one a handful of South Florida prospects visited by the Buckeyes today and he had been planning on a Buckeye official visit even before Golden's firing.
Miami's 2017 recruiting class, which currently ranks as the country's second best (behind Ohio State) may actually have a much better chance of sticking together now that Golden's firing is official. Whomever the Hurricanes bring in to replace The Orange Tie, he'll find himself walking into one of the country's most fertile recruiting grounds and a school with an immense sense of pride and tradition. It means something for the kids from South Florida to stay home and to attend "The U," as you can see from Bruce's comments above.
There's no doubt a coaching change brings uncertainty and challenges for a school and the players committed to the school. It's unfortunate and it's even a little sad, but in this case, Miami's future may end up significantly brighter thanks to the adjustment.
OHIO STATE COACHES ON THE ROAD
As we mentioned last night, you should expect to see a number of updates about travel plans of the Ohio State coaching staff this week. With the off week, The Men of the Scarlet and Gray are free to check out their top prospects from around the country for this time this evaluation period that began in earnest today.
#OhioState CB's coach Kerry Coombs swinging through Liberty County (Ga.) today, home of 2017 #Rivals100 DB Richard LeCounte
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) October 26, 2015
As you can see, the Buckeyes began with their focus on the southeast today. LeCounte, who was in Columbus for the game against Penn State, has been a top priority for some time and that is continuing. Coombs also visited Jacksonville, Florida today and stopped in to see 2017 commitment Shaun Wade and his 2018, five-star teammate Tyreke Johnson.
Buckeyes' running backs' coach Tony Alford started his day in Florida, visiting Nate Craig-Myers as we found out last night, but he also stopped in on 2017 running back Adarius Lemons among others in the Clearwater area. Alford is also expected to make a stop at the IMG Academy this week.
The third assistant coach in Florida today was Zach Smith, who made a handful of stops in South Florida, including one to see 2017 wide receiver Jerry Jeudy at Deerfield Beach and the aforementioned Zach McCloud at Lake Worth's Santaluces Community High School. Smith checked in at Coconut Creek High School this morning to see Buckeyes' targets Binjimen Victor, Trayvon Mullen and Malek Young; all three have an Ohio State offer. Smith will see the stars at St. Thomas Aquinas, including Trevon Grimes and Sam Bruce, later this week.
Ed Warinner found himself in the northeast today, including a stop at Paramus Catholic to see 2016's top prospect Rashan Gary and 2017 defensive tackle Corey Bolds among the talented Paladins. Warinner also stopped to see Kareem Walker and Michigan State commitment Thiyo Lukusa at Wayne, New Jersey's DePaul Catholic.
Ohio State 2016 commitment Kareem Felder is one of a handful of Maryland and Virginia prospects that Larry Johnson, Sr. was expected to stop in and see today as well. Tim Beck, the Buckeyes' quarterback coach, was expected in Texas today, where he will spend most his recruiting time.
We'll have more on the visits made by the Ohio State staff as the week continues.
JAYLEN KELLY-POWELL STILL FEELING GOOD ABOUT BUCKEYES
His father has always a been a Michigan man, but Detroit Cass Tech's Jaylen Kelly-Powell says things are changing around his house these days.
"My mom and dad are in love with Ohio State now," Kelly-Powell, a three-star prospect in the class of 2017 who holds a Buckeye offer, said. "They just love the way they get treated by Ohio State, and the school. My dad likes the way (Chris) Ash and (Kerry) Coombs are recruiting me."
Kelly-Powell, who visited Ohio State Oct. 17, has plans to come back soon.
"I have no visit plans anywhere," Kelly-Powell continued. "Except for the Ohio State and Michigan State game."
As mentioned, Powell was on hand for the Buckeyes' big win against Penn State and the atmosphere that night in Ohio Stadium has stuck with him. So too did the chance to see Kerry Coombs, the man who could be his future coach, in his working element.
"I loved it, the visit went really well," Kelly-Powell shared. "I talked to Coach Coombs a lot before the game and we talked a few times afterwards. The atmosphere was intense. Loved it."
ROBERTSON WILL MAKE OFFICIAL VISIT IN NOVEMBER
Ohio State has an impressive list of stars expected in November for their game against Michigan State and today that list grew by one.
#Scout100 ATH Demetris Robertson has official visit 2 #OhioState scheduled 4 Nov 21 Mich St game. @RyanGinnBSB @AllenTrieu @d_rob4 #GoBucks
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) October 26, 2015
Demetris Robertson, a four-star prospect from Savannah, Georgia who was at one time an Alabama commit, will be in Columbus Nov. 21. The country's second-ranked athlete, Robertson was offered by Ohio State in December of 2013, making him one of the earliest offers in the 2016 class for the Buckeyes.
It's not yet known how sincere Robertson's interest in the Buckeyes is, but a trip north in late November, even for a great football game, isn't something you take just for fun. Robertson has offers from anyone is who anyone in college football and could have made a visit anywhere else that weekend, so, and I don't want to sound dismissive, but you just never know. Urban Meyer will get his shot and that's all you can ask for.
