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.
OVERFLOWING PIPELINE
The most notable uncommitted prospect to attend Saturday's game against Northwestern was Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote. The junior made the trip to Columbus with his cousin and teammate, 2017 Ohio State defensive tackle commit Haskell Garrett.
2018 Bishop Gorman five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote on an unofficial visit to Ohio State today: pic.twitter.com/HUm15qHkci
— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) October 29, 2016
“Man, this place is great,” Gaoteote told Eleven Warriors. “The coaching staff, the players and the fans.”
The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder is considered the top outside linebacker and the No. 29 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. An Army All-American, he currently holds more than 20 offers from programs such as Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, UCLA, Utah and Washington.
"This was my first visit," Gaoteote said. "They set the bar high. I wanna get back soon."
Most prognosticators believe Gaoteote will ultimately choose the Buckeyes because of his connection with Garrett and teammates Tate Martell and Tyjon Lindsey, and he previously told me the trio is trying to push him to Columbus. He doesn't expect to make a decision anytime soon, however.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE?
Earlier this afternoon, Detroit, Michigan, five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones included Ohio State alongside Florida, Florida State, Michigan and Michigan State in his Top 5 schools.
Thanks For Everyone Who Has Supported Me Throughout This Journey !!! #Top5 pic.twitter.com/YwJ2jQhrXD
— Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) October 30, 2016
The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder is the top-rated wide receiver and the No. 12 overall prospect in the Class of 2017. He holds more than two dozen scholarship offers, but has long been considered a Michigan lean.
Ohio State already has two five-star wideouts in the fold in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas' Trevon Grimes and the aformentioned Lindsey, but would undoubtedly make room for Peoples-Jones if he decided he wanted to play his college ball in Columbus.
Ohio State rolled out the red carpet for Peoples-Jones when he took an official visit earlier this month. While the Buckeyes were warming up on Oct. 8 against Indiana, the wideout had a lengthy conversation with school president Dr. Michael Drake and athletic director Gene Smith under the south stands of Ohio Stadium.
Peoples-Jones unofficially visited Florida and Florida State in the spring, and has been to Michigan and Michigan State on numerous occasions. He took his first official visit to Nebraska for the season opener, as well.
What's interesting is the Buckeyes also await a decision from Cleveland Heights four-star receiver Jaylen Harris, who has repeatedly said the staff will make room in the seemingly scholarship-restricted class. That said, would they still make it work with Harris if Peoples-Jones wants to pull the trigger, too?
However unlikely, it's something to pay attention to in the coming months.
PICTURE PERFECT WEEKEND
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Blackman four-star wide receiver Trey Knox announced on Twitter Saturday night he has received a scholarship offer from Ohio State.
I am blessed to say that I received an offer from the Ohio State University #GoBucks @OSUCoachMeyer pic.twitter.com/3xD37AI9on
— Trey Knox (@Fbu1Tk) October 29, 2016
“Ohio State is a top school in the nation,” Knox told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound sophomore was on an unofficial visit with teammate Master Teague. He currently holds three other offers from Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, but Alabama, Florida State, Michigan and Penn State have also shown significant interest.
“The trip was great. We enjoyed ourselves,” Knox said. “I felt important because I got to talk to coach [Urban] Meyer, but the fans were spectacular. The atmosphere was so hype, and I loved it. The facilities are state of the art and nice.”
Knox has 39 receptions for 547 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns for the 7-3 Blaze this season.
"YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM DECOMMITTING"
Buffalo, New York, Canisius wide receiver Paul Woods was among the handful of unofficial visitors on the sidelines prior to Saturday's game against Northwestern.
Had a great time at Ohio State yesterday, great win against Northwestern#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/OApVXJLbeu
— W8 (@paul_woods_) October 30, 2016
“Best game I've been to,” Woods told Eleven Warriors. “Great game day experience. [I liked] how fired up they get in the locker room, the crowd was outstanding and the Carmen Ohio song at the end of the game was a great experience. Overall [it was a] live atmosphere.”
The 6-foot-1, 165-pound junior is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but holds an offer from Boston College. Woods grew up an Ohio State fan, though, and his father, Paul Sr., told me his son would commit the moment an offer were to be extended.
“[I've] loved Ohio State ever since I was little,” Woods said. “Great coaching staff. They have the 'Developed Here' [mantra], breaking down the best players, only to make you into the best athlete you can be.”
Woods, the teammate of Ohio State 2017 kicker commit Blake Haubeil, has 16 receptions for 293 yards and four touchdowns for the rush-heavy Crusaders this season. He camped at Ohio State in June and caught the attention of the staff at Friday Night Lights in late July.
“They told me they wanted to get me up there a lot more and end my final season highlights,” Woods said.
HOOSIER FAVORITE?
There are a number of highly rated seniors set to visit Columbus for the Nov. 5 game against Nebraska, including commits Shaun Wade, Martell and Lindsey, as well as five-star cornerback Darnay Holmes, five-star linebacker Anthony Hines III and four-star safety Bubba Bolden to name a few.
But one underclassmen to pay close attention to is Indianapolis, Indiana, Warren Central four-star sophomore wide receiver David Bell, who will take his first unofficial visit to Ohio State this weekend.
"It may sound a little corny, but I would like to meet Brutus," Bell told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder is considered the top-rated player in the state and the No. 9 wideout in the Class of 2019. He currently holds offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa and Syracuse, but Bell grew up rooting for Ohio State.
“They have shown me a good amount of interest,” Bell said. “I stay in contact with coach [Kerry] Coombs pretty often.”
To nobody's surprise, Bell is a big fan of the animated defensive backs coach.
“He has a lot of energy to him,” Bell said. “He is a very cool person to talk to.”
Bell has hauled in 49 receptions for 897 yards and 12 touchdowns this season for the a 9-1 Warriors squad that ranks No. 17 in the USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25.
