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.
GOING GOING BACK BACK TO CALI CALI
It's been long assumed five-star quarterback Emory Jones would be the bell cow, so to speak, of Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class. It makes sense, too, considering the Buckeyes' increased presence in the state of Georgia, which has almost doubled Ohio's output of four- and five-star prospects over the last five recruiting cycles.
But what is the possibility four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey, who committed to Ohio State on Monday night, takes the lead instead?
CAOH move is going to be real in 2018
— I AM JAIDEN WOODBEY (@JaidenWoodbey6) February 8, 2017
It may be getting a little ahead of ourselves to think Woodbey is already recruiting for Ohio State. But if he's truly done with the recruiting process like he says, why not try to spearhead California to Ohio? As we saw last cycle, it only takes someone like Jeffrey Okudah to push someone like Baron Browning toward Columbus.
Ohio State is admittedly behind in its evaluation of the Class of 2018, so there will certainly be new names that come up over the next few months. Those Californians who have already earned offers from the Buckeyes, however, include:
- Los Angeles Hawkins five-star wide receiver Jalen Hall
- Santa Ana Mater Dei four-star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown
- Claremont four-star inside linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu
- San Jose Oak Grove four-star running back Maurice Washington
Each have expressed significant interest in Ohio State, so it'll be up to Woodbey to further those relationships.
#SHHH
That said, the next few months will be rather busy for the staff as it tries to lay the foundation for the Class of 2018. There are a few important dates to know, however.
The NCAA-mandated “quiet period” began on Friday, which means coaches are not permitted to meet prospective student-athletes unless they are on campus. They can, however, continue to communicate through written letters or electronically.
Spring practices begin March 7, which will give the staff the opportunity to host unofficial visitors both during the week and on the weekends. The Buckeyes will practice 15 times this spring, which culminates in the annual spring game on April 15.
That date is significant, too, as it marks the first day of the “evaluation period.” Coaches still cannot meet with recruits away from campus, but can visit their high school to watch them practice.
EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE
Not everyone who signed with Ohio State last week did so surrounded by hundreds of classmates or on national television. Some, like Mantua Crestwood two-way lineman Aaron Cox, simply signed their letter of intent on their coach's desk.
O-H pic.twitter.com/bsTxnc6JeB
— Aaron Cox (@_aaroncox) February 1, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Cox turned down overtures from Akron, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Toledo and Youngstown State to live out his dream as a walk-on at Ohio State.
“Just the opportunity to work with the best players and coaches in the country, Ohio State is where I felt I'd reach my best athletic potential,” Cox told Eleven Warriors. “I liked their Real Life Wednesday program, which no one else does. Plus, growing up in Ohio, I've always been a huge Ohio State fan.”
Cox recorded 67 tackles and 13 sacks to help the Red Devils to a 9-2 record and the regional quarterfinals as a senior.
“[I'm going to] work as hard as I can every day on the field and in the classroom, graduate with a degree and hopefully be able to earn a scholarship in a few years,” Cox said.
