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.
OHIO STATE VS OKLAHOMA, PART II
With just a few spots left unaccounted in Ohio State's current recruiting cycle, the staff has all but shifted its focus to the top prospects from the Class of 2018. The Buckeyes have locked down commitments from five-star quarterback Emory Jones and four-star running back Brian Snead, and a strong showing against Oklahoma next month could net the program another stellar talent.
Owasso, Oklahoma, safety Josh Proctor told FanRag Sports the Buckeyes and Sooners are two of the programs which stand out in the early stages of his recruitment.
“I like those [schools] mainly because of the relationships and bonds I have with their coaches,” he said, also adding Georgia and Nebraska to the mix. “I talk to them almost every week.”
The 6-foot-3, 186-pounder was offered and visited Ohio State in early June, and will be on hand when the team travels to Norman, Oklahoma, on Sept. 17.
“That'll be a tough one,” Proctor said.
Considered the eighth-best safety and No. 69 overall prospect, the junior-to-be has scholarship offers from the four aforementioned schools, as well as Arkansas State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Texas-San Antonio. He has no visits set for this fall nor any plans to make a decision.
“I'm just kind of going with the flow,” Proctor said.
Great Visit! pic.twitter.com/zBe1mU3plO
— Josh (@jproctor_2018) June 10, 2016
COOMBS A HIT WITH CINCINNATI CORNER
Ohio State renewed its focus on recruiting the top prospects from the Cincinnati area when defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs was brought on staff in 2011. The former Colerain head coach played a significant role in the Buckeyes locking down 2017 Winton Woods defensive tackle Jerron Cage, and continues to keep an eye on several of his younger teammates, specifically 2018 linebacker Christopher Oats and 2020 cornerback Mi'Quan Grace.
Oats was offered a scholarship in June, and Grace told Eleven Warriors that he has a great relationship with Coombs.
“Coach Coombs is awesome,” he said. “I love to be coached like that. It pushes me even harder.”
The trio attended Friday Night Lights together last month.
ME & BRA @JutahnMcclain23 AFTER WE MADE THE WORLD TAKE NOTICE!!!! @QueSwagger @BucksRecruitin @buckeyeplanet @Birm pic.twitter.com/1WSPXp1Rt5
— @MiQuanGrace3 (@MiquanGrace3) July 25, 2016
“Friday Night Lights was epic,” Grace said. “I got a chance to meet some of the current players and some of the incoming recruits. Also got a chance to meet coach [Urban] Meyer and coach [Tim] Beck.”
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound freshman-to-be has grown nearly four inches and gained more than 30 pounds in the past year alone, which has attracted schools such as Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida State, Kentucky, Iowa and Michigan State.
Only the Bearcats and Wildcats have offered so far, but Grace said the Buckeyes would immediately shoot to the top of his list.
“It would mean the world to any kid [to be offered by Ohio State],” Grace said. “But to be from Ohio, it's just a little more special.”
BUCKEYES OFFER WALK-ON OPPORTUNITY TO COLUMBUS PROSPECT
According to Columbus DeSales' official Twitter account, Ohio State extended a preferred walk-on offer on Wednesday night to running back Alonzo Booth. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound prospect is has scholarship offer from Ball State, Eastern Kentucky and Navy.
Congratulations to Senior Alonzo Booth on receiving a Preferred Walk On Offer from The Ohio State University!!! pic.twitter.com/Gu2zRsFZgA
— DeSales Football (@FootballSfd) August 11, 2016
Booth is not ranked by any major recruiting network, but John McCallister of MSROhio.com considers him the “most agile, powerful and biggest running back” he has ever seen. He rushed for 915 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Stallions during his sophomore campaign.
OFFER LOOMS FOR ST. LOUIS LINEMAN
Considered by both 247Sports and Rivals.com as one of the best defensive lineman in the country for the Class of 2018, it's a shock that St. Louis, Missouri, defensive lineman Trevor Trout has only a handful of scholarship offers.
That list does not include Ohio State, either, though the 6-foot-4, 295-pounder expects an offer to be extended once he works on some things.
“I've not talked to them since the end of the evaluation period,” Trout told Landof10.com. “They told me they want me to work on my change of direction and slimming down a little bit … The Buckeyes told me they'd like me to get down to around 280 pounds.”
Trout was recently named the No. 22 overall prospect in the country for his class when Rivals.com revealed its 2018 Top100 earlier this week. He currently holds offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M and UCLA, some of which he hopes to visit this fall.
“I'm going to visit Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri,” he said. “Hopefully UCLA, also.”
OPTIMISM IN EARLY TOP FIVE
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, American Heritage defensive back Tyson Campbell called Ohio State's scholarship offer a dream come true last week, so it was no surprise he told Noles247 ($) on Thursday that he considers the Buckeyes among his top five schools.
Four-star CB Tyson Campbell recaps his summer trips & lists five schools of high interest. https://t.co/7FjI8HTWGV pic.twitter.com/uR1aiHZKp1
— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) August 11, 2016
The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder plans to visit Miami on Oct. 8 and Florida State on Oct. 29, and hopes to make a trip to Columbus this fall.
