The Hurry Up: Safety Says He's Done With Recruiting Process While Defensive End Goes On Unique Recruiting Trip

By Andrew Lind on February 7, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Noah Potter
Noah Potter
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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.

SHUTTING IT DOWN

In case you missed it, Bellflower, California, St. John Bosco four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey committed to Ohio State last night over finalists Nebraska, Oklahoma and USC. It was rather obvious he was going to pick the Buckeyes after finally make the cross-country trip for Junior Day, but why make the call after only one visit? 

"I feel like it’s best right now because I know that I’m going to get the best out of Ohio State," Woodbey told Land of 10. "They have been recruiting me harder than any other school, honestly. I feel like if a school really wants you, they would recruit you weekly and and you would be on the phone with them constantly and that is how it has been with Ohio State."

We will certainly see countless message board rumors of a flip through signing day, but Woodbey talked about how the recruiting process has already taken its toll. That's why he made the decision on Monday night as opposed to waiting.

"I have learned from the past that switching from school to school will give you a bad look so you have to do your research for everything,” Woodbey said. “Honestly, I just wanted to knock it out and get the recruiting process out of the way. After signing day, I knew where I was really going to go and I don’t need recruiting to be a factor to me this season. I need to focus more on bringing Bosco a second state championship and second national championship. This recruiting process is already stressful as it is. I have been talking to my parents about this for the last two months.”

Woodbey joins five-star quarterback Emory Jones and four-star running back Brian Snead in Ohio State's Supreme '18 recruiting class. With him in the fold, the Buckeyes jumped to No. 10 (from No. 19) in the 247Sports Team Rankings; every team ahead of them has at least five commits.

PLAYING BOTH SIDES

Saturday was rather interesting for Mentor sophomore defensive end Noah Potter. He spent the afternoon on an unofficial visit to Michigan and the evening rooting against the Wolverines' basketball team — his brother is Ohio State center Micah Potter.

"I like it just as much, if not more [than Ohio State]," Potter told Eleven Warriors. "The coaches were all on vacation, but they were super excited I wanted to come. The guys that showed me [around] were really cool."

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Potter recorded 37 tackles, 16 quarterback hurries and one sack for the Cardinals this season to earn offers from Bowling Green and Toledo. He's been to Ohio State numerous occasions and recently attended the Buckeyes' Junior Day. 

"It was a lot better than the games, and I got to talk to the coaches more," Potter said.

WE ARE... GOING TO FLIP YOU

Ohio State offered a scholarship on Tuesday morning to Erie, Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst Prep three-star linebacker Jesse Luketa.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Luketa is considered the No. 39 outside linebacker and No. 506 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He has seen his recruitment take off after a stellar junior campaign in which he recorded 69 tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense, while hauling in 21 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown as tight end for the Lakers.

Luketa, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, holds more than 20 offers from programs such as Cincinnati, LSU, Missouri, Northwestern, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Syracuse and West Virginia, but committed to Penn State last Friday night.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

The Buckeyes also offered a Hillsborough, North Carolina, Orange three-star junior outside linebacker Payton Wilson.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Wilson is considered the No. 36 outside linebacker and No. 460 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds 18 offers from programs such as Alabama, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Penn State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

Wilson has recorded 163 tackles, 14 sacks and one interception in his two-year varsity career with the Panthers.

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