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.
HONIGFORD UPDATES FOLLOWING WARINNER VISIT
I mentioned Monday that the Buckeyes were in to see Sugarcreek (Garaway, Ohio) 2017 offensive lineman Joel Honigford that afternoon.
Ed Warinner was the man on the scene for the Buckeyes and the 6-foot-6, 275-pound Honigford said he thinks things may be moving in a positive direction between him and Ohio State. He's been offered by Michigan and Indiana in the last week.
"(Warinner) said there's a possibility they might have a decision (about an offer) for me earlier than camp," Honigford told 11W. "He said that he's interested and that he wouldn't be coming to my school if they didn't have extremely high interest."
With such limited numbers left in 2017, that last statement by Honigford is worth paying attention to. Ohio State has been hoping all along that he'd delay a decision–he's visited Michigan State, Auburn, Oklahoma and others recently–until their June camps and it seems he's making a decision to wait at least that long. That's good news for the Buckeyes. To get ready for the summer, Honigford is working out regularly but trying to remember an important part of the recruiting process: to stop worrying about recruiting.
"I'm lifting four days a week, three days a week before school, I'm running and doing core workouts as well given to me by Coach Wes, one of my high school coaches," he said. "Everyone thinks (recruiting) is so much fun, and it is a lot of fun, but it's very stressful and hard on the other side. It has kind of taken me away from being a kid, so it'll be nice to commit and finally be myself again."
I know numbers are limited, but I do believe Honigford is on the very short remaining list of offensive linemen who could make his way into Ohio State's class.
CARMAN ADDS NOTRE DAME, SAYS NO PLANS FOR A COLLEGE DECISION SOON
One of the country's most offered 2018 offensive lineman, Fairfield, Ohio's Jack Carman, added another big name to his already impressive list yesterday.
Beyond blessed and grateful to have received an offer from the University of Notre Dame! #ND #NotreDame #GOIRISH pic.twitter.com/SMSJPVYGzx
— Jackson Carman (@Jackson_Carman) April 25, 2016
The 6-foot-6, 300 pounder has become a regular at Ohio State this spring. He says the developing familiarity between he and the Buckeyes makes it easy to feel comfortable in Columbus, but that it does create a little pressure to stay home. He was last there for the spring game on April 16.
"I had a great time," Carman told Eleven Warriors about the visit. "When I go now there is always a lot of pressure because I get the super special treatment and Urban Meyer is telling me I'm their No. 1 recruiting priority. I feel at home but there's still pressure at the same time."
There was some speculation towards the end of the spring game that Carman had committed to the Buckeyes when fans took note of Meyer and Carman's family talking and exchanging hugs. The country's 20th-ranked 2018 prospect says he's in no hurry to put an end to his recruiting process.
"My recruiting status is open as of right now," Carman added. "I didn't commit. I had a great time but I'm not going to make any decisions until a lot later down the line. Ohio State will most definitely be one of my official visit schools."
GILL, TOO, ADDS IRISH OFFER
Notre Dame was busy in Ohio Monday, offering not only Carman–the state's second-ranked 2018 prospect–but also Westerville South's Jaelen Gill, the top-ranked player in the Buckeye State.
Very excited to announce that I've just received my 18th scholarship, from The University of Notre Dame!!! #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/y00OqecXQV
— Squizzy Squirt (@jaelengill21) April 26, 2016
Gill has been very busy–as always–over the last few months. The two-sport star has been trekking all over the country visiting schools when he's not been on the baseball field or in a camp setting. He's quite simply one of the most non-stop workers in the entire country and he's setting himself up to be a five-star prospect before it is all said and done.
DALLAS GANT TALKS BUCKEYES, SPARTANS AND SPRING GAMES
Let's stay in Ohio and stay in the 2018 class.
Toledo St. Johns' Dallas Gant, the country's top-ranked outside linebacker and 42nd-ranked overall prospect in his class, added a key offer himself this weekend–from Michigan State–while visiting East Lansing for the Spartans' spring game. He was at Ohio State the weekend before for the Buckeyes' spring game as well.
"Michigan State was great," Gant told 11W. "It's always nice to see the place and it was beautiful weather for the game."
The Spartans set a new school record for spring game attendance, checking in at just over 51,000 fans, roughly half the national record crowd he saw in Columbus. That disparity made the events seem like apple and oranges: both delicious, both good for you –– but different.
"The difference in the amount of people was significant," he said of two visits. "So it's hard to compare the two."
The most important distinction between Ohio State and Michigan State right now is that the Spartans have offered a scholarship and the Buckeyes have not. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Gant knows the Michigan State scholarship can open some doors.
"I think (the Michigan State offer) will improve my recruitment with other schools, just by being offered by an elite program," he said. "I don't know for sure about a potential offer (from Ohio State), they haven't really talked about it."
Like most Ohioans, the key for a potential offer may be a camp visit this upcoming summer. Until then, the most important part of recruiting–relationship building–is where the focus is. Gant and the Buckeyes worked on that during his visit for the spring game.
"I got to talk to most of the coaches before the spring game in the recruitment room," Gant said about his most recent visit to Ohio State. "I got to talk to some of them afterwards as well."
MATTA EXTENDS NEW 2017 SCHOLARSHIP OFFER
With the 2016 basketball recruiting class now officially finalized, Ohio State has turned their attention to 2017. You know the name Markell Johnson, but Monday night the Buckeyes offered another point guard in the class, Mississippi's Nick Weatherspoon, who is quickly becoming one of the hottest prospects in the country.
Just talked to Coach Matta Ohio state offered #Buckeyes
— nick.gotti (@quavo_mxbb) April 26, 2016
Ohio State has joined North Carolina, Louisville and North Carolina State as recent offers for the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder from Camden.
The run of big-time offers comes on the heels of a showcase weekend in Atlanta at the Adidas Gauntlet.
From HoopSeen.com:
Without a doubt, the most impressive guy I saw over the weekend was 2017 MBA Hoops point guard Nick Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon started his story last spring at the Atlanta Jam with the SR1 Mississippi All-Stars and it’s safe to say he’s rolling now...The ultra-athletic 6-foot-1 point guard is a rare breed. He has elite athleticism and has a knack for scoring the basketball. However, over the past year, Weatherspoon has been able to become more controlled with his game. His passing is underrated, too. Weatherspoon rolled in 33 points in a close loss Saturday afternoon, but, despite the loss, it was still a positive game for him.
North Carolina, Louisville and Ohio State getting involved in a three-day stretch means this is now a national recruitment and for the Buckeyes to come out on top they'll need to take advantage of the opportunity they've had to build their relationship early.
